France vs Portugal: Here’s a look at ten players to watch out for in star-studded Euro 2016 final

France vs Portugal: Here’s a look at ten players to watch out for in star-studded Euro 2016 final

FP Staff July 10, 2016, 12:32:05 IST

Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann will meet for another title showdown when Portugal faces France in the Euro 2016 final on Sunday, just six weeks after they contested the Champions League final.

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France vs Portugal: Here’s a look at ten players to watch out for in star-studded Euro 2016 final

Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann will meet for another title showdown when Portugal faces France in the Euro 2016 final on Sunday, just six weeks after they contested the Champions League final.

Not only will France have the home crowd support behind it at the Stade de France, but Griezmann has been on sparkling form with a tournament-leading six goals — double the tally of Ronaldo, who has toiled and grumbled his way through Portugal’s stodgy campaign.

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But Griezmann and Ronaldo are not the only players to watch out for in the star studded Sunday’s European Championship final.

Here’s a look at ten players from Portugal and France to watch out for:

Hugo Lloris

France's Hugo Lloris celebrates after Antoine Griezmann scores their first goal against Germany. Reuters

This is Lloris’ fourth major tournament as France’s No 1. The captain demonstrated just how important he is to the title bid late in Thursday’s 2-0 semifinal win over Germany, preserving the clean sheet with a fine reflex save to deny Joshua Kimmich. Often acting as the sweeper by rushing off his line to thwart attacks early, the Tottenham goalkeeper can be vulnerable at crosses.

Lloris’ leadership off the field has shined in the past year, thoughtfully and eloquently addressing a traumatized nation following the Paris attacks in November. He also addressed the healing potential of soccer in his final media appearance before the final.

Paul Pogba

France's Paul Pogba celebrates at the end of the match against Germany. Reuters

Often deployed in a deeper role for his dynamic tackling, Pogba has also exhibited his passing range to unlock defenses. However, what France doesn’t get from Pogba are goals at the end of his burst through defenses. He’s only netted six times in 37 internationals, with his solitary strike at Euro 2016 coming against unheralded Iceland.

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Sunday’s final could be Pogba’s last game before a big-money move from Juventus, with the midfielder having been linked with the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Dimitri Payet

France's Dimitri Payet applauds the fans after he is substituted against Iceland. Reuters

Despite fading in the semifinals, Payet’s elegancy and efficiency on the ball has been an essential component of France’s bid for a first trophy since Euro 2000. It’s taken until late in his career for the 29-year-old Payet to become a France regular, having taken six years to reach 25 appearances.

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The electrifying midfielder’s spectacular goals for West Ham last season secured him a place at Euro 2016 and he delivered with essential goals in the opening two games to ensure the hosts made a perfect start.

Olivier Giroud

Olivier Giroud warms up. Reuters

With 10 goals in 12 games, Giroud has established himself as a real striking force for France. And yet he continues to divide opinion among fans — both with club side Arsenal and on international duty.

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Even scoring in a Euro 2016 warmup game didn’t prevent him being jeered by French fans that night. It’s the tendency to waste good scoring opportunities, rather than being appreciated for his link-up play, that leaves the 29-year-old Giroud constantly on an uphill mission to prove his quality.

Antoine Griezmann

Antoine Griezmann acknowledges fans as he celebrates at the end of match against Germany. Reuters

Small for a striker — at 1.76 meters (5-foot-9) — Griezmann is making a big impact at his home tournament, both in the air and on the ground. The Atletico Madrid striker is the undoubted star of the championship so far and seems destined to take home the Golden Boot as top scorer.

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Griezmann has scored six goals in six games — double the tally of teammates Giroud and Dimitri Payet, as well as Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo. Now the French are appreciating Griezmann’s quality in France - unlike his teenage years, when he was rejected by several clubs and went to Spain to make it as a professional.

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Here are five Portugal players to watch:

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo during training. Reuters

The most compelling character on the Stade de France stage.

Ronaldo had a difficult start to Euro 2016: He was uncomplimentary about crowd-favorite Iceland, missed a probable match-winning penalty against Austria, and was furious when Hungary took the lead for a third time in their 3-3 draw.

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But he’s still here, after raising his game and his team at key moments as Portugal steadily improved through the knockout rounds.

The way he leapt high in the air to head the opening goal against Wales in the semifinals suggested Ronaldo is energized again.

Aware of where he stands in the Ballon d’Or race, Ronaldo knows that victory on Sunday could bring him a fourth career award ahead of Lionel Messi, Gareth Bale and France’s Antoine Griezmann.

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Pepe

Pepe after Portugal's match against Poland. Reuters

The love-him-or-hate-him Real Madrid defender had an excellent Euro 2016 until a thigh muscle injury kept him out of the semifinal.

Pepe deserves a chance to play after being on his best behavior, and marshalling the defense through tightly-fought knockout games against Croatia and Poland.

It would also reunite Pepe with referee Mark Clattenburg after their memorable meeting at the Champions League final in May. Pepe’s play-acting after minor clashes with two Atletico Madrid players prompted a disapproving, tongue-wagging gesture from Clattenburg and a repeated warning to “Look out.”

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Jose Fonte

Jose Fonte celebrates at the end of the match against Wales. Reuters

At age 32, defender Fonte is reaching a late-blooming career peak.

When Ronaldo and Pepe played at the 2010 World Cup, Fonte was preparing for another season in the third tier of English football with Southampton.

Since then, Fonte was central to Southampton’s rise to the Premier League’s top half.

Fonte stepped on the international stage when Fernando Santos became Portugal coach in 2014. His first call-up came in Santos’s first match — a 2-1 loss to France in a friendly at the Stade de France.

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Fonte had to wait for his chance at Euro 2016, replacing veteran Ricardo Carvalho after the draw with Hungary in the last group game.

Raphael Guerreiro

Raphael Guerreiro celebrates his goal against Norway. Reuters

Guerreiro was born to Portuguese and French parents in the northeastern suburbs of Paris just 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Stade de France.

The 22-year-old left-back has impressed at Euro 2016 after playing just once in Portugal’s eight-match qualifying program. When he did not play here, Portugal trailed three times before salvaging a draw with Hungary.

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Guerreiro has been lively going forward and provided the cross for Ronaldo’s header against Wales.

This should be no surprise to Borussia Dortmund, which acted early in the tournament to sign Guerreiro from French club Lorient.

Adrien Silva

William Carvalho warm up before the match. Reuters

Between the tough defense and the star attackers, Portugal has relied on a trio of Sporting Lisbon midfielders to link the play.

Sporting captain Adrien Silva has been perhaps the standout alongside teammates William Carvalho and Joao Mario.

Like Guerreiro and Fonte, Adrien Silva is a relatively late arrival in Santos’s plans.

Adrien Silva did not play in the group-stage games, and his neat passing has coincided with Portugal improving in each game since.

With inputs from AP

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