Ronaldo v/s Griezmann. Portugal v/s France. This is going to be one big clash.
And after a thrilling tournament it’s time for the big one. France v/s Portugal. Griezmann v/s Ronaldo Part 2 (They met in the all-Madrid UEFA Champions League final). Of course all eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo, as commentators and pundits alike, beat the same drum about how you can’t be a ‘Greatest of All Time’ unless you win something with your nation. The fact that his great rival Lionel Messi failed to do so with Argentina in the Copa America 2016 final (and then shockingly called time on his international career) means Ronaldo has the best shot he will ever get to win this. Not that it will be easy, as Griezmann and the French boys are hell-bent on winning it on home soil.
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Match timing: 00:30 IST in July 8
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Match Preview
France's Antoine Griezmann will look to outshine Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo in title clash tonight
Paris: With France's baby-faced poster boy Antoine Griezmann going up against preening Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, the Euro 2016 final will feature a duel between two very different number sevens.
Griezmann, 25, is the tournament's top scorer and is bidding to deliver success for the home nation in his first major international final.
Ronaldo wept teenage tears after Portugal's 1-0 loss to Greece in the Euro 2004 final and at 31, he knows he may not get a better chance of success with his country.
"Euro 2004 was special — I was just 19 and it was my first tournament," Ronaldo said after scoring a magnificent header in Portugal's 2-0 semifinal win over Wales.
"Now we are in the final again and we hope we will win it. I hope that we'll be smiling and that it will be tears of joy in the end."
Griezmann has already had a tearful tournament exit, having cried on the pitch at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana after France lost to Germany in the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals.
He appeared close to tears again six weeks ago following Atletico Madrid's Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid, in which he blasted a second-half penalty against the bar.
He atoned, partially, in the penalty shootout, but Ronaldo had the last laugh, tucking away the fifth and final spot-kick to secure his third European title.
It is Griezmann, however, who has captured imaginations at the Euro and he provided another exhibition of his talents with a brace in the 2-0 semi-final win over Germany.
"He's a great player," said France coach Didier Deschamps. "In this Euro, he's been decisive for us. He can score and he can help others score."
Disappointing in France's opening 2-1 win over Romania, Griezmann came off the bench to head in a crucial late goal in the 2-0 defeat of Albania.
But having started the tournament on the right flank, it was only after being moved behind Olivier Giroud at half-time of the last 16 clash with the Republic of Ireland that his tournament sprang to life.
He scored twice in the second half, found the net again in the 5-2 last 16 defeat of Iceland and downed Germany almost single-handedly in Marseille on Thursday.
Paul Pogba went into the tournament as the heir apparent to Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane. But L'Equipe newspaper dubbed the team the "Griezmann Generation" following the defeat of Germany.
Griezmann is the first player to score six goals at a Euro since Platini, who netted nine times when France triumphed as hosts of the 1984 tournament.
Ronaldo's goal against Wales saw him equal Platini's record of nine goals at Euro finals, but whereas it took the Frenchman one tournament to set his mark, it has taken the Portugal captain four to equal it.
Like Griezmann, Ronaldo made a slow start to the tournament.
He was widely ridiculed for accusing Iceland — population 3,30,000 — of having a "small mentality" after the 1-1 draw between the teams and then slammed a penalty against the post as Portugal drew 0-0 with Austria.
But he scored twice in the 3-3 draw with Hungary that secured Portugal's last 16 place and after two games without a goal, he settled the semi-final against Wales with a goal and an assist for Nani.
With his great rival Lionel Messi's Argentina career up in the air — the Barcelona star announced his international retirement following a defeat on penalties by Chile in the Copa America final — Ronaldo has an extra incentive to win on Sunday.
Like Messi, he has never won a World Cup or continental tournament with his country.
Lead Portugal to a first major title, and a fourth Ballon d'Or — the prize he covets above almost all others — would swim tantalisingly into view. —AFP
QUOTE
Antoine is still a young player, even if he has had a very great season. Ronaldo has been at the summit for seven or eight years. If there's an anti-Ronaldo plan, no-one's found it
—Didier Deschamps, France coach
NZONE
10
No. of consecutive games France have won against Portugal, their best current run against any team after their 13 consecutive wins against Luxembourg
1
No. of goals Portugal have scored against France in their last five games, a penalty by Ricardo Quaresma in October 2014
13
No. of goals France have scored this tournament in their six games, the most by any team
2
No. of European Championships France have won. Only Germany and Spain have won more (3)
1
No. of goals Portugal have conceded in their last five knockout games at the European Championships, it was against Poland in this year’s quarterfinals
13
No. of games under Fernando Santos in which Portugal are unbeaten (W9, D4). Eight of those nine wins were decided by a single goal
43
No. of direct free-kicks Ronaldo has taken at major tournaments. He has failed to score any. All nine of his goals at the European Championships have been scored from inside the box
DID YOU KNOW?
This will be France’s fifth major tournament final. They have won three of their previous four (Euro 1984 & 2000, World Cup 1998), losing the last one they were involved in (World Cup 2006)
Portugal’s last victory against France dates back to April 1975, in a friendly (2-0)
This is Portugal’s second major tournament final after Euro 2004 which they lost against Greece (0-1) – however, it’s their first final outside Portugal
Portugal have played the most games in the history of the European Championships without ever winning the tournament (34)
Didier Deschamps could become the second person to win the Euro as a player and manager after Berti Vogts (unused sub in 1972, winning manager in 1996). Deschamps was the winning captain for France at World Cup 1998 and Euro 2000
Head-to-head
Played: 24
Portugal: 5 (28 goals)
France: 18 (49 goals)
Drawn: 1
Road to final
Portugal
Drew with Iceland 1-1
Drew with Austria 0-0
Drew with Hungary 3-3
Beat Croatia 1-0
Beat Poland 5-3 on penalties
Beat Wales 2-0
France
Beat Romania 2-1
Beat Albania 2-0
Drew with Switzerland 0-0
Beat R. Ireland 2-1
Beat Iceland 5-2
Beat Germany 2-0
DEADLY DUEL
Cristiano Ronaldo
Age: 31, Position: Striker, Caps: 132, Goals: 61
Antoine Griezmann
Age: 25, Position: Winger, Caps: 33, Goals: 13
PREDICTED XI
Portugal
Rui Patricio, Cedric, Fonte, Pepe, Guerreiro, Sanches, Carvalho, Joao Mario, Adrien Silva, Ronaldo, Nani
France
Lloris, Sagna, Umtiti, Koscielny, Evra, Pogba, Matuidi, Sissoko, Griezmann, Payet; Giroud
QUOTE SHOOT
Euro 2004 was special — I was just 19 and it was my first tournament. Now we are in the final again and we hope we will win it. I hope that we'll be smiling and that it will be tears of joy in the end
—Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal captain
We have come through a crisis in French football. We have climbed back up the slope, we have done it step by step. Tomorrow (Sunday) we have the chance to go into French football history, it is a unique time in a player's career
—Hugo Lloris, France skipper
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