The Euro 2016 final on Sunday sees
a match between hosts France and Portugal that will unleash a clash between one
of the world's greatest players ever Cristiano Ronaldo and would be pretender
Antoine Griezmann.
After 50 matches over a month of
football that has seen stunning shocks by Iceland and Wales, Ronaldo is
counting on his side producing one more upset so he can finally win an
international trophy.
Portugal will have to beat a
French side who have found new inspiration from Griezmann – the tournament's
leading scorer on six goals – and being willed on by a nation avid to
rediscover the feelgood factor.
With the country still on
terrorist alert after the November 13 attacks in which 130 people died, more than
3 400 police will be on the Champs Elysees in Paris alone when the match starts
at the Stade de France at 1900 GMT.
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.
Deschamps, who captained the
French side that won the 1998 World Cup and the Euro title in 2000, said he
could feel the adrenaline pumping.
DESCHAMPS WANTS TO PLAY "It's
an exceptional moment, a privilege, a unique chance because there is a title at
the end," Deschamps said of the final.
"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.
"On the bench, there is a
frustration in not taking part, but I can't do that anyway. But I'm fine, I
don't feel any pressure, no stress, just adrenaline and that's positive."
France have put in some stylish
performances, including their 5-2 win over Iceland to end the giant killing run
of the team that dumped England out of the contest.
France captain Hugo Lloris said
the team wants to put their name in the football history books to redeem
themselves for a player revolt at the 2010 World Cup that made them a national
disgrace.
The troubles were worsened by the
exclusion of star striker Karim Benzema over an alleged sextape blackmail
attempt.
"We have come through a
crisis in French football," the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper said.
"We have climbed back up the slope, we have done it step by step."
Lloris said that Sunday's final is
"the chance to go into French football history."
France with home advantage in the
85 000 capacity stadium, Griezmann, star midfielder Paul Pogba and the calming
influence of Lloris start as favourites.
But they acknowledge the
omnipresent danger of Ronaldo on the pitch.
Santos has succeeded by building a
team around the superstar striker and winning "ugly" when necessary
to get to the next round.
Portugal's 2-0 win over Wales in
the semifinal was the first in the tournament achieved within 90 minutes.
Veterans such as defender Pepe and
Ricardo Quaresma have played lynchpin roles on days when Ronaldo has failed to
fire.
Portugal have been criticised for
some of their European Championship performances but Santos said he does not
care.
He also says France are the
favourites but believes Portugal can win.
"Let them carry on saying
that Portugal won without deserving it," he said.
"I will be very happy if they
say that again tomorrow. I will go home very happy."
Portugal have never fully
recovered from losing the 2004 Euro final to Greece when they hosted the
tournament.
Ronaldo who shed tears as a
19-year-old at that match said this week he wants to be "crying with
joy" on Sunday.
Ronaldo's Real teammate Pepe is
fully fit again after missing the semifinal through injury. Pepe said Portugal
were strong because they want to win.
"I've been at a very
demanding club for 10 years and I've been playing for Portugal since
2008," he said when asked about his own ambition to win at the age of 33.
"I have three European
Championship and two World Cup campaigns to my name.
"I have always been very
demanding of myself. I don't like to lose, I want to help my team. That makes
me play at the highest level and to be recognised at the highest level.
"The most important thing is
to always want more," he said.
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