Euro 2016 Final: Portugal v France, 10th July, 8pm

[JJ1532]

So, Portugal v France.

Portugal have scraped through in pretty dull fashion for the most part, doing just enough to get by. Drew all 3 group games, beat Croatia in extra time, beat Poland on penalties and got past Wales in comfy fashion. They haven't played well, but they've not looked like losing, have shown a fair bit mental resiliance to get this far.

Ronaldo is always a threat and they have a few lively attacking options. And bar Hungary, they've looked defensively solid for the most part.

As for France, well its France on home soil innit? Always making the final. They've had a few issues, made hard work of some games but had probably the most goal threat of any team at this tournament, have a pretty well rounded team and look odds on favourites to win this game.

Can Portugal beat the hosts to win their first ever major tournament? Or can France win their 3rd tournament in 3 on home soil? Everyone is rooting for France right? None of this Ronaldo shite?

 

[liu]

Clattenburg to referee this. Good choice.

 

[SALTIRE]

Was surprised when I heard that Portugal haven't won a tournament, I thought they won a Euros when they had Eusebio. They've flopped worse than England.

 

[Stevencc]

Clattenburg to referee this. Good choice.

WE'RE IN THE FINAL!

 

[SALTIRE]

WE'RE IN THE FINAL!

I'm sure the commentators will constantly remind us all about it as well as banging on about one of the players playing 10 minutes for Oldham when they were 13.

 

[mnb089mnb]

Whoever wins this qualifies for the Confederations Cup in Russia next summer.



Exciting.

 

[Stevencc]

I'm sure the commentators will constantly remind us all about it as well as banging on about one of the players playing 10 minutes for Oldham when they were 13.

Let it go mate, just let it go.

 

[SALTIRE]

Let it go mate, just let it go.

Its hard to when its said every match.

Anyway, another cartoon, the Ronaldo one cracks me up.

 

[Stevencc]

Its hard to when its said every match.

Anyway, another cartoon, the Ronaldo one cracks me up.

http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/20...rms-he-could-get-life-in-prison-if-he-wanted/

 

[SALTIRE]

http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/20...rms-he-could-get-life-in-prison-if-he-wanted/

Great stuff, and I don't think it would that far from the truth tbh, he is a very jealous type!

 

[Super_horns]

Mark Clattenburg the ref.

Hopefully he has a decent game unlike the FA Cup final which was a bit of a disaster..

 

[Renegade]

Was surprised when I heard that Portugal haven't won a tournament, I thought they won a Euros when they had Eusebio. They've flopped worse than England.

England has five times the population of Portugal and a far stronger league. If anything, Portugal consistently punch above their weight. You can go back to bashing England now.

I'll be rooting for the underdogs.

 

[SALTIRE]

England has five times the population of Portugal and a far stronger league. If anything, Portugal consistently punch above their weight. You can go back to bashing England now.

They should've won a tournament before now though with some of the players they have had, particularly in 2004. Maybe this is finally their time I suppose. Hope not though.

 

[T.A]

Clattenburg v Pepe Round 2

 

[Liam_SWFC]

I've been quite harsh on Portugal so far but got to give them credit for making the final, they've found a style of play which has seen them get results, and as said above despite not looking convincing they have never really looked like losing. France have moved through the gears after a pretty unconvincing group stage, and moving Griezman down the middle off of Giroud has transformed them going forward.

Of course France are the overwhelming favorites but Portugal are in the final for a reason and while ever they possess arguably the world's best player they have a good chance. I want France to win it as I would hate to see the CR7 love in that would appear were Portugal to win, and I think they'll just have a bit too much quality for the Portuguese. Think both teams will score but it will be done in 90 minutes, 2-1 France.

 

[GodsGift]

despite not looking convincing they have never really looked like losing.

Hungary?

 

[JJ1532]

Hungary?

Yeah, they didn't look like losing. They went behind for 23 minutes in the 1st half, which isn't that long. Then when Hungary scored(via 2 massively deflected efforts) in the 2nd half, Portugal responded within 3 minutes and 7 minutes. After they got it back to 3-3, they didn't look in any real danger of losing. They made hard work of it, as they often seem to do, but they were more than worth their point and didn't look like losing in my opinion.

 

[xpto999]

Being in the final with such a crappy team is already a victory. If we lose, no harm done.

 

[JoshBCFC]

Being in the final with such a crappy team is already a victory. If we lose, no harm done.

Do you mean "crappy" as in quality or form?

I reckon it'll be another dull game, reckon France will win in extra-time.

France 1-0 Portugal.

 

[yellow]

Anyone else feel Portugal are about to do to France what Greece did to Portugal in 04?

Ronaldo, 1-0. Annoyingly.

 

[mistermagic]

Defeat would be a disaster not just for us but for football in general. How a side so limited can be in with a shout at a european trophy is conclusive proof that the level of football has severely decreased in the last decade.

France must win. For football.

 

[mnb089mnb]

Defeat would be a disaster not just for us but for football in general. How a side so limited can be in with a shout at a european trophy is conclusive proof that the level of football has severely decreased in the last decade.

Ten years ago Greece were European Champions.

 

[Stevencc]

Fernando Santos "I want them to keep saying the same thing. That Portugal won without deserving it, that's what I'd like, it'd be great!"

 

[JimJams]

I think one of the gripes about them winning is that in any other Euro format they'd have been out in the group stage. But then again Denmark didn't even qualify for their tournament, so it's a minor grumble.

This is the worst tournament I can remember. The format has made it shite.

 

[xpto999]

Do you mean "crappy" as in quality or form?

I reckon it'll be another dull game, reckon France will win in extra-time.

France 1-0 Portugal.

This team is probably the worse we had in the last years. If you saw the team of Euro 2000 playing you'll know what i mean. So being in a final is a great achievement, with some luck along the way. But luck goes everyone's way from time to time.

Fernando Santos "I want them to keep saying the same thing. That Portugal won without deserving it, that's what I'd like, it'd be great!"

I saw him saying that and he was laughing while saying it. I think he just meant that it would mean Portugal would win the tournament. And he really doesn't care how.

 

[Stevencc]

This team is probably the worse we had in the last years. If you saw the team of Euro 2000 playing you'll know what i mean. So being in a final is a great achievement, with some luck along the way. But luck goes everyone's way from time to time.



I saw him saying that and he was laughing while saying it. I think he just meant that it would mean Portugal would win the tournament. And he really doesn't care how.

Yes - I'd have the same attitude if England made the final.

 

[smat]

This is the worst tournament I can remember. The format has made it shite.

Really? I've loved it. There's been tons of football, some big shocks, some great games (France vs Germany, Wales v Belgium and Hungary vs Portugal among the best), and it's been great to see some new teams like Albania giving it a crack. It's absolutely miles better than the 2010 World Cup, which was awful.

 

[JimJams]

I think the only games I found enjoyable were Hungary/Portugal and Wales/Belgium.
The 3rd place finishing took an edge away from matches too making the onus not to lose rather than to win. I also think the crowds were dull aside from Iceland. Maybe I just like South American boobage too much when the camera pans out!

 

[JJ1532]

This is the worst tournament I can remember. The format has made it shite.

Hard to beat 2010, which had virtually nothing going for it. 2012 was also pretty dull from memory.

This has been terrible, but I don't agree that the format has made it dull. Sure, there were some truly naff teams in the competition and the format meant some of your more unfamiliar and less talented(than Germany, Spain, France etc) teams made it to the tournament and then progress to the last 16, but I think the teams just haven't been that good, even the top ones. Germany don't look like the side they did 2 years ago, Italy are an extremely average side at the moment, Spain look tired and stale. The next tier of teams like Portugal, Croatia, Poland, Switzerland and, I suppose, England, all look very beatable. Then you have your up and coming teams like Iceland, Wales and Albania who impressed at this tournament, but have a long way to go to prove they are tournament regulars.

France have probably been the best team at this tournament and even they aren't amazing. Superb midfield and goalkeeper, but the defence is ropey and their striker options aren't exactly scary. They to me are another that can be beaten.

The World Cup in 2 years time is going to be wide open. With Brazil only really having 3-4 players who can hold a candle to their superstars of old and Messi and Aguero retiring from the Argentina team, I don't think there are any truly quality teams. Not like France in 98, Brazil in 02, Spain in 2010, Germany in 2014 etc. Most level a playing field there has been for quite some time I think.

 

[G.B]

The group stage was awful viewing. Teams have to win games in order to qualify with 16 teams in the tournament, with 24 they just have to not lose. The knock out games have increased in quality but up to that point it really was shite.