After 50 games over the past month, we finally have the two finalists for UEFA Euro 2016. Portugal will take on the hosts France in Paris on 10 July, Sunday, as the world waits to see a new Euro champion.
Portugal made short work of Wales with a 2-0 win thanks to the heroics of Cristiano Ronaldo while France knocked Germany out – one of the pre-tournament favourites and world champions – with a similar scoreline. This is the third time Les Bleus play a major tournament final on home soil. They had reached the final of Euro 1984 and the 1998 World Cup, winning both.
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The two semi-finals were contrasting in nature but the game between Germany and France was arguably the best of the tournament so far. But both semis saw some fine performances and we tried to put them into a playing XI.
Goalkeeper
The position between the sticks was a toss-up between Portugal’s Rui Patricio and France’s Hugo Lloris – both of whom kept clean sheets in their respective semi-finals. However, it would be unfair to pick Lloris over Patricio based on their individual performances.
Make no mistake; although France won 2-0 on the night, it was Germany who dominated the game. France simply capitalised on two individual errors and made them count. But not before Lloris was tested time and again by the Germans.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker was beaten a couple of times and was lucky to see shots miss by mere inches or come off the woodwork. On the other hand, Rui Patricio was well in control of shots that were on target. He looked composed, never spilled the ball and denied a frustrated Gareth Bale many times when the Welsh forward took shots from distance.
Defence
France’s Laurent Koscielny was arguably the best centre-back in the semi-finals. The Arsenal defender was a rock at the back for the French defence and kept Germany at bay with his timely clearances. He made a total of 11 clearances – more than any other player in the semis.
Although Germany had shots on goal, France’s centre-backs were hardly at fault for shots from free-kicks and long-range efforts. Koscielny’s partner Samuel Umtiti, playing in only his second game at Euro, also stood strong at the back, making nine clearances. And both players ensured Thomas Muller was neutralised.
Both of Portugal’s full-backs get the nod in defence. Raphael Guerreiro and Cedric Soares were instrumental in negating Wales’ 5-3-2 formation that many teams have struggled to break down.
The Welsh wing-backs Chris Gunter and Neil Taylor were pegged back thanks to Portugal’s high defensive line and it allowed Guerreiro and Soares to advance up the pitch and stretch the defence which allowed Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo to find space.
Guerreiro himself was responsible for creating the first goal. It was his cross that was floated into the box which allowed Ronaldo to score with a brilliant header to open the scoring. Soares, on the other hand, made as many as 5 clearances and 4 tackles, ensuring Bale never saw much of the ball on the left.
Midfield
Picking a midfield with so many great performances was a tough task and it ultimately boiled down to the best players in their respective positions. Which is why even though Mesut Ozil had a great game, he does not get a look in.
Toni Kroos ran the game for Germany making a match-high 95 passes. The set-piece expert also put in two accurate crosses into the box to trouble the French defence. He kept the ball ticking and looked for every weakness. In the absence of Sami Khedira, the onus was on him and Ozil to run the midfield and create chances. And Kroos made 3 key passes which Germany could not pounce on.
France were more than happy to concede possession to Germany while they looked to press and hit them on the counter. But their midfield duo of Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi linked defence with attack and looked to release their forwards at any given opportunity. Both players combined played seven long balls.
But it was their combined pressure that saw Kimmich make an error. Matuidi’s presence saw Kimmich turn away only to see Pogba nick the ball from him and eventually put in the cross that saw Manuel Neuer flap at it and lay it for Antoine Griezmann to pounce and score.
The French forward did not start the tournament well but suddenly found his form when he was deployed behind Olivier Giroud. The Arsenal striker has looked for him on every other occasion and found him in space, allowing the Atletico Madrid striker to finish the job.
A penalty and a poacher’s goal sees him top the goalscoring charts with six goals – a hat-trick away from equaling compatriot Michel Platini’s record of nine in a single tournament.
Attack
Portugal made it to the knockout stages by the skin of the teeth and scraped through as one of the better third-placed teams, even though they had not won a game. Even in the Round of 16 and quarter-finals, they did not win in normal time.
But more importantly, they did not lose. Their first win in normal time came in the semi-final and it was down to the unorthodox strike partnership of Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani.
Many teams have played without a striker but Portugal coach Fernando Santos has seen his gamble of playing two wingers up front pay off. Both players have an understanding and look to vacate space to give the other more room. It’s no wonder then that they have both scored three goals and have a combined three assists.
The final promises to be an interesting affair with Portugal trying to set the record straight. They have never beaten France in their last 10 attempts. Will Paris change that or will Les Bleus win yet another trophy on home soil?
