UEFA Euro 2016:Final - France Vs Portugal Live Discussion Thread

FINALS

FRANCE

Vs

PORTUGAL

France will take on Portugal on the final match of Euro 2016 Championship on July 10th, Sunday. France qualified for the semi final match after defeating Germany in semi finals. On the other hand, Portugal reached final after defeating Wales On 2-0 ..

How do France contain Cristiano Ronaldo?

Ronaldo became the first player to score in four European Championship finals and despite failing to fire on all four cylinders the Real Madrid star is an omnipresent danger.

France acknowledges they will have to limit the Portuguese star as much as possible.

"He's one of the best in the world, if not the best," said France right-back Bacary Sagna. "As a defender you have to give him as little space as possible."

The nature of Portugal's team and their fairly passive attacking game means Ronaldo has been less effective than he would normally be with Real.

He has had less opportunity to counter-attack, less service from attacking midfield players and so had fewer opportunities to score.

But Ronaldo is a constant threat around the area and at set-pieces. He scored a brilliant backheel against Hungary, fired Portugal in front with a superb header against Wales and a scuffed shot from the Real marksman was enough for Nani to get his leg to the ball and double Portugal's lead.

Giving Ronaldo a sniff of goal early in the game could change the entire landscape for France. Asked about Ronaldo, France coach Didier Deschamps warned: "In football, the major challenge is fighting against speed and his game in the air. Limiting his influence will be key for us."

Which tactical formation will France deploy?

France coach Didier Deschamps has yet to find a settled starting line-up, having experimented in midfield and attack since the start of the tournament.

With the threat of Cristiano Ronaldo and a midfield diamond designed to offer the Real Madrid man scoring opportunities, a committed defensive performance will be required from all French players.

After a fairly solid performance against Germany in Marseille, Deschamps is expected to stick with the 4-2-3-1 he used against the world champions.

Antoine Griezmann was part of a three-man attacking midfield against the Germans, sitting just behind main striker Olivier Giroud. The little Atletico Madrid striker was magical to watch.

Deschamps is unlikely to change tack, though Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi " who sit just in front of a four-man defence " will have to track back to help break down Portuguese offensives, in addition to their own offensive duties.

Can Portugal shake off the weight of history?

Portugal boast some of the world's top footballers but have yet to win a major trophy and are desperate to banish memories of their stunning defeat to Greece on home soil in 2004.

Cristiano Ronaldo was a baby-faced 19-year-old who cried post-match tears as Portugal were stunned 1-0 at the Stadium of Light 12 years ago.

He has since been voted the world player of the year three times and gone on to huge success with Real Madrid. But Portugal remain a country without a title, and the bitter memories of 2004 are still felt.

William Carvalho, who with Ronaldo is one of two survivors from 2004, said: "Now the moment has come to remember and learn from the mistakes we made.

MATCH PREVIEW -

Griezmann's exploits are all the more remarkable given he was dropped from the starting XI following France's opening game.

That is just one of several difficult decisions made by coach Didier Deschamps which have paid handsome dividends - whether they are changes in formation, personnel or even the non-selection of Karim Benzema before the tournament.

Deschamps has said that France reaching the final of their home Euro 2016 is helping to bring back a feelgood factor in the country, where 130 people were killed in November in attacks across Paris.

"We don't have the power to solve the French people's problems but we can ease their worries," Deschamps said.

"The players are well aware of that power, and what they can give to the French people by wearing these colours. When you see the passion, inside and outside the stadium, this team has everything it takes to be loved, the players are performing well on the pitch and I'm very proud."

TEAM NEWS -

Coach Fernando Santos must decide whether to keep faith with midfielder Danilo or recall William Carvalho, who has completed a one-game ban.

France coach Didier Deschamps is again expected to have all 23 players available.

His biggest selection dilemma is whether to recall midfielder N'Golo Kante or continue with Moussa Sissoko.

MATCH FACTS -

Head-to-head

• France have won their last 10 games against Portugal. Their overall record is W18, D1, L5.
• Portugal last avoided defeat against the French in 1975, when they won a friendly 2-0 in Paris.
• France's 10-game winning streak includes the three previous meetings at major tournaments, all of which came at the semi-final stage. Michel Platini hit a late winner as France won 3-2 in extra time at Euro 84, while Zinedine Zidane scored a golden goal (via a penalty) as the French won 2-1 at Euro 2000. And another Zidane spot-kick put France in the 2006 World Cup final with a 1-0 win.
• The sides have met twice in friendlies in the last two years. Les Bleus won 2-1 at the Stade de France in October 2014 with goals from Karim Benzema and Paul Pogba (Ricardo Quaresma replied with a penalty), while Mathieu Valbuena's free-kick gave France a 1-0 victory in Lisbon last September.

Portugal

• Portugal have played the most games in the history of the European Championship without ever winning the tournament (34, before this final). Should they beat France, that unwanted record will pass to England (31 matches).
• They are the first team to reach the final of the European Championship after ending third in the group stage. It has happened twice before at World Cups but Argentina (in 1990) and Italy (in 1994) both ended as runners-up.
• Portugal are unbeaten in their 13 competitive fixtures under Fernando Santos with eight of their nine wins by single-goal margins.
• Cristiano Ronaldo has also failed to score with any of his 43 direct free-kicks at major international tournaments.
• All nine of his goals at the European Championship have been scored from inside the penalty area. Five of those have been headers.

• France

• France have won three of their previous four finals at World Cups or Euros . They only time they ended as runners-up was at the 2006 World Cup - they drew 1-1 with Italy before losing on penalties.
• They are unbeaten in their last 18 games at World Cups or Euros on home soil, winning 16 and drawing two. Their last defeat came at the inaugural European Championship in 1960 (they lost both their games - a semi-final against Yugoslavia and third-place play-off against Czechoslovakia).
• Victory would see France join Germany and Spain as three-time European champions.
• Of France's 13 goals at Euro 2016, 11 have been scored from the 42nd minute onwards.
• The record for most goals by a team at the Euros is held by France (14 in five matches in 1984).
• France are the last side to win the European Championship final after conceding the opening goal (they hit back from 1-0 down to beat Italy 2-1 in 2000).
• Antoine Griezmann can become the third Frenchman to finish as the sole top scorer at major tournament, following Just Fontaine (1958 World Cup) and Michel Platini (Euro 84).
• Didier Deschamps could become the second man to win the European Championship as a player and coach, after Germany's Berti Vogts - who was an unused substitute in 1972 and coach in 1996).

Originally posted by: ..Anastasia..

y isn't it global yet

Originally posted by: GUNNER.

looks like meli is busy today

Originally posted by: GUNNER.

looks like meli is busy today