Hosts France will take on Portugal in the Euro 2016 final on Sunday night in Paris and Les Bleus head into the clash as big favourites.
Didier Deschamps team would no doubt prove popular winners because of some the team’s performances and also due to what the country has endured in the past 12 months.
In terms of share watch ability, France have arguably been the easiest on the eye. Deschamps team also possess the competition’s lead goalscorer in Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann, who will be looking to add to his tally of six goals for the tournament against a stubborn Portuguese defence.
Portugal and star man Cristiano Ronaldo have underwhelmed in France and a win for Fernando Santos’ team would not be a celebrated one, outside of the Iberian country of course.
Ronaldo has been slightly off his game in France, but was a major influence in the 2-0 semi-final victory over Wales, producing a goal and an assist for Nani. His teammates are unlikely to change their game of giving the Real Madrid man the ball and expecting him to inspire victory.
In truth Portugal have been very ordinary at Euro 2016 and have won just one of their six games in France on their way to the final.
However, France have some of the most entertaining and high-profile players at the tournament in the likes of Dimitri Payet, Paul Pogba and the aforementioned Griezmann. It would be a shame for France as a country if Les Bleus did not triumph against the average Portuguese.
Many feel that a victory for France would be a victory for good football, rather than Portugal’s rather dull style of play. That point has merit, and if France does win Euro 2016, as expected, then they will be popular winners.