UEFA EURO 2016: Portugal vs. France – The Final

For the home nations, the journey is over. But what a run Wales had – It might be their first major tournament since 1958, but they made the most of it with their best ever showing, and only just missing out on a phenomenal final.

Alas, three minutes of Portuguese magic was all it took to undo Wales. Bale & co. have nothing to be ashamed of, and an open top bus tour is being held back home for the Welsh heroes – where the future looks bright for the new stars.

Wales applaud their fans following their Euro 2016 exit.

PORTUGAL (2-0 win vs. Wales)

It’s amazing to think that in any other European Championships, Portugal wouldn’t have even got to the knockout stages. That, then including the round of 16 and quarter finals, they didn’t win a single game within the regular 90 minutes, it seems almost ridiculous to say they’ll, at worst, be runners-up in this tournament where they were 3rd best in their group…

Yet, here they are. In the final, having just beaten one of the great surprises of the tournament, and finally doing it in the regular 90 minutes. On the one hand, do we say that Portugal are finally switching it on only when it matters, or – as they still struggled to somewhat contain Wales – were those three minutes of magic a moment where Wales switched off briefly?

It’s interesting to see how Portugal do on Sunday, as it still seems strange to think given how they’ve performed just how exactly they got here to the final.

While it’s great news for Portugal, they’re finally facing a side from the “other” side of the brackets… and they’re not gonna like the view.

Antoine Griezmann score both of France’s goals, giving him 6 overall in the tournament so far.

FRANCE (2-0 win vs. Germany)

Any concerns about the goals slipping in they had with Iceland were duly put to bed by keeping a clean sheet against the World Champions and incredibly on-form Germany. In front of an incredibly partisan crowd, France went ahead from a closely contested penalty appeal – but on replay was right – when Schweinsteiger handled in the box. Step up Antoine Griezmann, converting to take France 1-0 up at the end of the first half.

A mistake in the second half from Germany opened up for the 25 year-old to net another to put it beyond the Germans, and meant Griezmann scored his 6th goal of the tournament – already the same tally Thierry Henry managed across three Euros, and just three behind the all-time record by Platini (9, all scored in 1984).

This was a strong, confident France – though they might not have been the strongest team, they certainly showed enough that should put some massive concerns in the Portuguese minds.

So we’re heading towards Sunday: Hosts France, or Portugal, will end up Euro 2016 winners. Will the hosts repeat their 1984 success of winning at home, or will Portugal finally win their first ever major tournament?

Ashley Redman
Vive le PorFra!