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| Real Madrid and Portugal's Pepe is looking to return from injury. |
Team news
France: No Injury or Suspension issues
Portugal: Pepe (returns for contention after injury), Willian Carvalho (returns from suspension)
Predicted Starting XI
France: (UNCHANGED: 4-2-3-1) Lloris - Evra, Umtiti, Koscielny, Sagna - Pogba, Matuidi - Payet, Griezmann, Sissoko - Giroud
Portugal: (4-1-3-2) Patricio - Guerreiro, Fonte, Pepe, Soares - Carvalho - Mario, Silva, Sanches - Ronaldo, Nani
Key points:
Rest: Portugal have had an extra day's rest when compared to France whose match vs Germany was concluded on Thursday evening. Despite this France have no injury doubts and are thought to be unaffected.
Form: France have won 5 and drawn 1 game thus far in the tournament whereas Portugal have somewhat stumbled their way to the final with only one win in 90 minutes! Portugal have scraped through via 3 group stage draws, an extra time Quaresma winner vs Croatia and an intense penalty shootout against Poland. It's no surprise that France are firm favourites!
Ronaldo: The Portuguese talisman struggled to begin with, seeing 10 shots fail to go in against Iceland as well as missing a penalty and a plateful of other opportunities vs Austria. However a spectacular flick, a confident penalty and an enormous header saw Ronaldo's form improve and helped Portugal through to the final. The eyes will be on Ronaldo as he is Portugal's main threat to a French dream of winning a third major tournament on home soil.
Griezmann: The Atletico Madrid man is highly likely to finish top scorer, with 6 goals to his name his closest challengers are Giroud, Ronaldo and Payet (3). France will be hoping he can add to his tally despite playing just behind Giroud in his preferred CAM position. France have scored in every game excluding their 'nothing' match with Switzerland where many were rested.
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| A Combined XI shows the gulf in form between the two in France |
Prediction:
I predict Portugal's flair players of Ronaldo, Nani and Renato Sanches all to perform on the big stage, as a result it won't be the walkover that pundits are expecting. France haven't been tested much defensively, they were fortunate to come away unscathed vs Germany and did ship two goals vs Iceland. I expect a 2-1 France win in extra time, in a match where France dominate possession and Portugal look to play on the counter. Expect Pogba and Matuidi to be heavily involved as key players for France. It would also be unsurprising if the likes of Martial and Coman come on since France are more likely to tire, they will almost certainly have a strong impact if so.
ALLEZ LA GARS
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