Sports Blog 08/07/2016: UEFA Euro 2016 Final Preview – Portugal vs France, Sunday 10th July 2016

The end is night, Euro 2016 ending with a clash between one of the tournament’s most exciting sides and one of its biggest disappointments as France take on Portugal this Sunday!

Despite dealing with long, confidence-sapping periods of German dominance France eventually pulled off an impressive victory in their Thursday semi-final, the Marseille crowd proving to be the epitome of a 12th man. Antoine Griezmann opened scoring with a penalty just before half time, before nabbing his 2nd brace of the competition as the German defence fluffed their lines around the 70th minute.



That leaves the diminutive Atletico star, who heads to the final at a Super Mega PGM of 27-32, as a near lock for the Golden Boot, his 6 goals (the highest tally since Michel Platini in 1984) double the amount of teammates Olivier Giroud (at 19-23) and Dimitri Payet (at 13-17). In fact the forward prowess of this French side sees them 2 goals away from beating the all-time record scored in a single European Championship, currently held by 1984’s Platini-led champions (who admittedly scored 14 in a mere 5 games).

In contrast Portugal have been flat where France have fizzed, and, England excluded, have easily looked the worst of the top 6 ranked sides coming into the tournament. Yet here they are, in the final for the first time since 2004; if anything Portugal’s progression to the Stade de France should come as no surprise. In their 7 appearances at European Championship finals the Portuguese have reached 2 quarter-finals (1996 and 2008), 3 semi-finals (1984, 2000, where they lost to France in both, and 2012), and were runners-up (in 2004).



Not that past-glory will have been much comfort for Portugal’s fans, who have had to watch their side limp through the tournament in the most ignoble fashion imaginable. Finishing in 3rd in Group F, below Hungary and Iceland, they were they pushed to extra-time against Croatia and penalties against Poland. Only against Wales in the semis did Portugal not embarrass themselves, an emphatic header from Cristiano Ronaldo (who goes into Sunday at a Super Mega PGM of 25-30) and a fumbled goal from Nani giving them their first 90 minutes-win of the tournament.

At 40/85 fixed odds, to their opponent’s 9/5, the French are clear favourites to become the first country to win the Euros on home soil twice, a win that would also see them match the 3 championships held by Germany and Spain. In terms of the final itself Didier Deschamps’ side maintain their healthy advantage, Spreadex offering a France/Portugal Goal Supremacy spread of 0.4-0.6 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.05-2.25.

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