Predicted teams and selection dilemmas for the final
Friday, July 8, 2016
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Who is likely to get the nod on Sunday when Portugal take on France in Saint-Denis. What are the big decisions to be made? Our experts run through it.
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Portugal: Rui Patrício; Cédric, Pepe, Fonte, Guerreiro; William Carvalho, Adrien, João Mário, Sanches; Nani, Ronaldo.
Doubtful: Pepe (thigh)
- Fernando Santos will line up with his tried-and-trusted 4-4-2 diamond formation and if everyone is fit, the team more or less picks itself.
The one cloud hanging over Portugal is the fitness of defender Pepe. The Real Madrid centre-back has been outstanding at UEFA EURO 2016, but missed the semi-final and trained alone on Friday – he did look far sharper than at any time over the past week. If he misses out, the experienced Bruno Alves will start alongside José Fonte.
- Danilo did a fine job nullifying Gareth Bale on Wednesday, but William Carvalho is expected to come back into central midfield alongside Sporting CP club-mates Adrien and João Mário. That will free up Renato Sanches to exploit any space between the France midfield and attack.
France: Lloris; Sagna, Koscielny, Umtiti, Evra; Pogba, Matuidi; Sissoko, Griezmann, Payet; Giroud.
- Didier Deschamps is likely to stick with the 4-2-3-1 template he used from the off against Iceland and Germany. Antoine Griezmann has scored five goals in two and a half games since the switch to this system.
- Samuel Umtiti has impressed since coming into the side for the suspended Adil Rami and may well be retained at centre-half. N'Golo Kanté also lost his place on the back of a ban and could be deployed from the bench like in the semi – unless Deschamps reckons the defence requires additional help to deal with the menace of Cristiano Ronaldo.
- Dimitri Payet had his quietest game of the tournament on Thursday, yet had been outstanding till then so will be retained, with Moussa Sissoko on the opposite flank providing greater defensive cover.