On July 09 2016 23:06 warding wrote: France are favorites. Portugal will very likely play defense for most of the game, trying to grab a goal from a counter or a moment of Ronaldo brilliance. We're likely to experience a boring game, unless one of the teams scores early.
Even assuming France will win, I'm very excited to see how the backbone of the team for the next 8 years - William Carvalho, Renato Sanches, André Gomes, Raphael Guerreiro and Cedric Soares - perform in the first big final of their careers. This tournament marks a transition stage in the Portuguese team, with Moutinho, Carvalho, Pepe, Fonte, Nani, Quaresma, Bruno Alves, Eliseu and Vieirinha in the twilights of their careers, most unlikely to be called again for a tournament. The generation coming, however, has shown a lot more talent at their age than the one leaving overall (even taking into account the one leaving had Ronaldo...), with Cancelo, Ruben Neves, Bernardo Silva, André Silva and Diogo Jota already showing brilliance at a very young age. Meanwhile, the U17s just won the Euro this year. Expect to see us competing into the later stages of tournaments in the decade to come.
It might be early to say but with what Renato Sanches has shown at his age, and taking into account his character and work ethic, he might be the true heir to Ronaldo's leadership role in the team.
On July 09 2016 23:06 warding wrote: France are favorites. Portugal will very likely play defense for most of the game, trying to grab a goal from a counter or a moment of Ronaldo brilliance. We're likely to experience a boring game, unless one of the teams scores early.
Even assuming France will win, I'm very excited to see how the backbone of the team for the next 8 years - William Carvalho, Renato Sanches, André Gomes, Raphael Guerreiro and Cedric Soares - perform in the first big final of their careers. This tournament marks a transition stage in the Portuguese team, with Moutinho, Carvalho, Pepe, Fonte, Nani, Quaresma, Bruno Alves, Eliseu and Vieirinha in the twilights of their careers, most unlikely to be called again for a tournament. The generation coming, however, has shown a lot more talent at their age than the one leaving overall (even taking into account the one leaving had Ronaldo...), with Cancelo, Ruben Neves, Bernardo Silva, André Silva and Diogo Jota already showing brilliance at a very young age. Meanwhile, the U17s just won the Euro this year. Expect to see us competing into the later stages of tournaments in the decade to come.
It might be early to say but with what Renato Sanches has shown at his age, and taking into account his character and work ethic, he might be the true heir to Ronaldo's leadership role in the team.
I still miss Figo like no other
This was a Portuguese team only on its 5th appearence in a major international tournament ever (we used to never qualify). First game of the Euro, England were 2-0 up at 18 minutes. This goal made it 2-1 and we went on to win it 2-3. We also beat Germany 3-0 in the group stage, then went out against France in the semis after a Zidane penalty on the 117th minute.
On July 09 2016 23:06 warding wrote: France are favorites. Portugal will very likely play defense for most of the game, trying to grab a goal from a counter or a moment of Ronaldo brilliance. We're likely to experience a boring game, unless one of the teams scores early.
Even assuming France will win, I'm very excited to see how the backbone of the team for the next 8 years - William Carvalho, Renato Sanches, André Gomes, Raphael Guerreiro and Cedric Soares - perform in the first big final of their careers. This tournament marks a transition stage in the Portuguese team, with Moutinho, Carvalho, Pepe, Fonte, Nani, Quaresma, Bruno Alves, Eliseu and Vieirinha in the twilights of their careers, most unlikely to be called again for a tournament. The generation coming, however, has shown a lot more talent at their age than the one leaving overall (even taking into account the one leaving had Ronaldo...), with Cancelo, Ruben Neves, Bernardo Silva, André Silva and Diogo Jota already showing brilliance at a very young age. Meanwhile, the U17s just won the Euro this year. Expect to see us competing into the later stages of tournaments in the decade to come.
It might be early to say but with what Renato Sanches has shown at his age, and taking into account his character and work ethic, he might be the true heir to Ronaldo's leadership role in the team.
Are there any strikers in that talent pool? That looks like a really solid line of players from Portugal.
On July 09 2016 23:06 warding wrote: France are favorites. Portugal will very likely play defense for most of the game, trying to grab a goal from a counter or a moment of Ronaldo brilliance. We're likely to experience a boring game, unless one of the teams scores early.
Even assuming France will win, I'm very excited to see how the backbone of the team for the next 8 years - William Carvalho, Renato Sanches, André Gomes, Raphael Guerreiro and Cedric Soares - perform in the first big final of their careers. This tournament marks a transition stage in the Portuguese team, with Moutinho, Carvalho, Pepe, Fonte, Nani, Quaresma, Bruno Alves, Eliseu and Vieirinha in the twilights of their careers, most unlikely to be called again for a tournament. The generation coming, however, has shown a lot more talent at their age than the one leaving overall (even taking into account the one leaving had Ronaldo...), with Cancelo, Ruben Neves, Bernardo Silva, André Silva and Diogo Jota already showing brilliance at a very young age. Meanwhile, the U17s just won the Euro this year. Expect to see us competing into the later stages of tournaments in the decade to come.
It might be early to say but with what Renato Sanches has shown at his age, and taking into account his character and work ethic, he might be the true heir to Ronaldo's leadership role in the team.
Are there any strikers in that talent pool? That looks like a really solid line of players from Portugal.
André Silva from FC Porto is a striker that has shown a lot of promise in the international U19 and U21 competitions and became a starter later in the season for his club. If he doesn't pan out, we'll have to wait until José Gomes comes of age (currently 17). He was awarded golden player at the Euro U17 this year.
Really want to watch but it's at a terrible timing here in South East Asia. 3am on a Monday morning, if they go to penalties you can forget sleep and go straight to work :D
I haven't enjoyed a EURO this much since 2004 (obv. disregarding the Greece matches). 2008 and 2012 were just meh for me both in regards of football quality and entertainment.
On July 10 2016 17:26 sharkie wrote: I haven't enjoyed a EURO this much since 2004 (obv. disregarding the Greece matches). 2008 and 2012 were just meh for me both in regards of football quality and entertainment.
Personally I thought the group stage this year was terrible and it only started getting better in the playoff stage.
Portugal Hungary was the most fun match of this tournament xD
On July 10 2016 23:48 don_kyuhote wrote: I thought Euro 2008 was pretty entertaining. Netherlands smashing the 2 finalist of 2006 WC... Russia and Turkey making to the semi...
And Spain played fast-paced offensive attack, and it was not the snore fest of Spain 2010 and 2012.
First team to score wins 2 or 3-0. I expect France to blitz in the first ~10/15 minutes, and if they don't score in that timeframe, slowly lose control of the game and let Portugal play with the ball. Then if the score is still 0-0, the second half will be tense yet boring until the first goal.
So after 4 weeks of long gruelling matches in France we are left with two teams fighting it out for the European title! Portugal led by Ronaldo and France led by Hugo Lloris. France being the hosts will have alot of expectation on their shoulders but they also have the home crowd cheering them on which could be a huge factor! Portugal come into this final with many people wondering how, with Ronaldo scoring but still not being in his clinical form we are used to seeing him in at Real Madrid, they have only won one game inside the 90 minute time frame but still they haven't been beaten either right? This game will probably as always in finals come down to who takes there chances, with France you have the inform Greizmann who really has turned his form around in this competition after the poor first game in which he was subbed at half time along with Pogba. He has been scoring for fun and has looked very lethal, Pogba and Payet behind him supplying is also very huge for France as those two players can change the game and have done in this tournament. There has been a surprise in the back 4 with France, Evra and Sagna are old and we knew they would not be at the best and they have offered little going forward, but with Koscielny and Umtiti they have really done well together and have been very solid in front of Lloris. Lloris himself you can always count on, a world class keeper who showed it with a couple of great saves, one in the last minute vs Germany springs to mind. Portugal, well they have been interesting to say the least, Ronaldo and Nani leading the line they have clutched a few games between them, when those two click just like in the Yanited days they are fabulous to watch together. The back 4 of Portugal is a bit questionable, they have fairly rookie fullbacks but they have potential though and i have been impressed by Guerreiro though and others must have too as he recently signed for Dortmund. Add in Fonte and Pepe compliment eachother really well at the back they give good protection to Patricio in goal. The midfield is the big conundrum for me, they have such fabulous players to choose from, a gulf of spoils in the whole midfield positions, from youth to experience but the coach for me, never seems to get it right. Carvalho has always been dubbed the next great thing, add in Andre Gomes the Valencia magician and round it off with the likes of Renato Sanches and you have huge potential. Add in the experienced Moutinho too and you wonder how they have not fed Ronaldo and Nani an abundance of goals. However maybe it will click in the final? The game itself is going to be the standard final, extremely close very negative but thats what you expect in the final with two teams who do not want to lose! It will come down to whether Ronaldo will take his chances he will get and then for France it will be whether they can supply Greizmann and co if Pogba and Payet get the space to do so. So, lets find out!
Referee - Mark Clattenburg
Prediction Portugal 2-1 France
Line Ups!
Patricio Guerreiro Fonte Pepe Cedric Carvalho Mario Silva Sanches Nani Ronaldo
As I expect both teams really want to win this final this COULD become score heavy when one team scores early. Otherwise it could become a borefest with penalties
On July 11 2016 03:50 sharkie wrote: As I expect both teams really want to win this final this COULD become score heavy when one team scores early. Otherwise it could become a borefest with penalties
So let's hope France will play the first 10 minutes like against Germany and be more successful.
EPT
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