Sunday cover: Cristiano Ronaldo v Antoine Griezmann, Portugal v France – It’s here

France will take on Portugal in the final of Euro 2016 at the Stade de France stadium in Paris on Sunday July 10.

Les Bleus and the Selecao meet in a fixture that could result in either the host country lifting the Henri Delaunay Trophy for a second time or the first-ever tournament win for the other nation.

Portugal muddled through the group stage with three draws, downed Croatia with a last-gasp extra-time victor and got past Poland on penalties before beating Wales 2-0 in the semi-final.

But coach Fernando Santos appears to be revelling in underdog status.

When it comes to their European Championship meetings, France has won two out of two – both of them semi-finals – in 1984 and 2000.

“The whole country is going to support them, but it’s a final and anything can happen”. My fingers are crossed because I believe, my colleagues believe, all of Portugal believes and the Portuguese community in France believe too. “This makes me proud, I always dreamed about winning something for Portugal and I hope it will be this time.”
Portugal, which has won only one match over 90 minutes in this tournament, has yet to sparkle, although there was some improvement in its semifinal, notably from Ronaldo, who scored a majestic headed goal.

The coach also repeated that Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is “the best player in the world”.

Griezmann is the clearest danger to Portugal, with his six-goal tally at Euro 2016 double that of any player, including Cristiano Ronaldo, who has three.

Pepe is set to return to the Portugal starting line-up for the European Championships final against France at the Stade the France on Sunday after taking a full part in the squad’s final training session on Saturday and showing no signs of any problem with the thigh strain that sidelined him for the game against Wales. Since the tournament started, nobody has beaten us, and I hope France aren’t going to beat us either.

When they returned home, the fallout was enormous and the players were loathed by the French public, who viewed them as irresponsible and selfish spoiled brats, and they were lambasted by politicians.

They face France in Sunday’s final having shown only flashes of inspiration, instead relying on tactical discipline and determination to pull them through.

If France are to defeat Portugal Bacary Sagna must be at his best.

France has only failed to win one of its games in the tournament, a 0-0 draw with Switzerland in the group stage. “We want to write our names in history”, the 33-year-old defender said.

“I think this referee may be among the best two or three referees in the world”, Pepe said.

“You have to accept things when that’s not the case, but before accepting that you have to do everything to try and win matches”.

If form and history were the only determining factors in deciding the outcome of the Euro 2016 final, Portugal wouldn’t stand a chance.

“Because of how France did in the semi-final, they’ve flown off the shelves”, he added.