Charlie Nicholas has picked his best combined XI from France and Portugal ahead of Sunday’s Euro 2016 final in Paris, and rates the likely starting line-ups.
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Both sides have relied on their star men throughout the tournament, with Antoine Griezmann leading the Golden Boot race with six goals and two assists while Cristiano Ronaldo has three goals and three assists to his name.
However, Nicholas insists that it has been team efforts from both nations that has guided them to Sunday’s showpiece , struggling to pick out a weak link from either side.
European Championship,Tomorrow, 23:00pm
Portugal v France
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Here’s who makes his best XI:
Charlie Nicholas gives his combined XI ahead of the Euro 2016 final between Portugal and France
The Sky Sports pundit has also picked who he thinks will start at the Stade de France this weekend, and rates each player’s performance at the tournament so far…
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Portugal
Rui Patricio (8) – He’s been steady and the thing that has impressed me the most is he doesn’t flap at crosses. There’s a lot of good shot stoppers out there but he has also been a great decision maker.
Pepe (7) – He’s been more disciplined in this side. He frustrates the life out of me most of the time but playing for his country seems to have made him cut out the nonsense. He’s a certainly to start and a certainty to be booked because he always seems to get caught up in the situation.
Pepe’s theatrics have been put on ice when playing for his country, says Nicholas
Jose Fonte (8) – I was surprised when Ricardo Carvalho started ahead of him in the group stages because he’s been brilliant for Southampton. He’s a natural leader that has perhaps calmed Pepe down a bit and is a strong physical presence who will be perfectly suit to marking Olivier Giroud.
Cedric Soares (7) – He’s a another steady performer without doing anything dramatic. He’s comfortable on the ball and knows his role in the team.
Raphael Guerreiro (8) – He’s one that has caught my attention. I like his energy and he is a real modern sort of full-back with the way he gets forward and is comfortable on the ball.
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William Carvalho (8) – People have been talking about him for a long time and I would like to see him in the Premier League, although he’ll command a big fee. He’s not got the physical presence of France’s central-midfielders but is very controlled and should certainly start ahead of Danilo.
Renato Sanches (9) – I was surprised he went to Bayern Munich at such a young age but he’s obviously keen to keep learning. He’s obviously got a lot of energy and for a young man there’s a confidence in him. He just gets a nine from me and has been Portugal’s best player.
Renato Sanches has been Portugal’s best player of Euro 2016 says Nicholas
Joao Mario (7) – He puts in real graft for the team, wins the ball and feeds the more creative players. He is another steady player that helps make this team tick. I nearly went for an eight but I’d like to see a bit more quality from him on the ball.
Adrien Silva (7) – Another player that is an industrious cog in this team. Like a few of the other players, he’s not a name that will jump out at most people because this supporting cast haven’t really established themselves as stars.
Nani (9) – He’s been freed up to express himself in this team with a really solid midfield behind him and has really impressed me. He’s obviously got bundles of ability and can still play at the top level. Fenerbahce might kick themselves for not holding off for a bit longer to find a bigger suitor than Valencia.
Nicholas has been impressed by Nani during the tournament so far
Cristiano Ronaldo (9) – It’s not been the essence of brilliance from him but all he needs is one cross or one touch to change a game. He’s always been challenged and people always seem to want him to fail. I’ve never been his biggest fan but he’s an absolute goal machine. As Germany found out, if you don’t have that man capable of putting the ball in the net, you’re not a great team.
Charlie predicts…
Find out what Charlie Nicholas is tipping up at 28/1 for Sunday’s final.
FRANCE
Hugo Lloris (9) – He has been first class. There’s problems in their defensive set-up but he’s produced and rescued them when required. I wouldn’t be surprised if the likes of Real Madrid have been really looking at him.
Bacary Sagna (8) – I still think his delivery is average and for such a good athlete, he should be getting forward more but that’s perhaps because he doesn’t trust his final ball. He’s also strong in the air so you won’t see Ronaldo peeling off to sit on him when the crosses come in.
Laurent Koscielny (9) – If only I could see him lead an Arsenal defence like the has France! He seems to take more responsibility in this team because he knows they are relying on him to make the big interceptions. Between him and Lloris, they’ve carried this team defensively.
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Samuel Umtiti (7) – He was actually better against Germany than Iceland, perhaps because that was his first game. There’s no way Rami comes back in based on that last performance but here’s the real test because he’s the man Ronaldo will be targeting.
Patrice Evra (8) – He’s not a player who has ever really impressed me despite his incredible CV, but he actually gets forward as much as Sanga should. He’s fit as can be despite his age and is always in position to give central-midfielders an out ball which is so valuable.
Paul Pogba (8) – A move to Manchester United for £100m? I don’t even think he’s worth half of that. He’s good but he’s not top draw yet. People look at him like a Patrick Vieira with more skill but he doesn’t have the same tenacity and is still very raw. We’re expecting a lot from him as a superstar but I don’t think he’s taken this tournament and dominated it.
Paul Pogba isn’t worth a £100m move to Man Utd, says Nicholas
Blaise Matuidi (7) – I’m not a big fan. He makes a lot of square passes and doesn’t do enough for me. That one pass to Olivier Giroud is the only thing he’s really impressed me with. He’s a water carrier and I see a lot of Didier Deschamps in him.
Moussa Sissoko (8) – I think Deschamps will stick with him over N’Golo Kante. I’ve always liked him but he doesn’t deliver enough. I’d like to see him at Arsenal but he’d need to put a shift in. He is powerful and quick and I never knew why Newcastle played him out wide. Clubs like Everton or Southampton should certainly be looking at him.
Dimitri Payet (9) – When West Ham signed him, the Marseille owner said he’d be worth £25m-£30m in 12 months time and he was right. He’s the one player who has captured the French imagination with his style and he would have been on for a 10 out of 10 had he done a bit more with the ball against Germany.
Dimitri Payet and Antoine Greizmann have shined for France throughout the tournament
Antoine Griezmann (9) – Goals tell you everything. You look at his goals and it’s his composure that makes him brilliant. He’s created a partnership working off Giroud and is one of the coolest finishers I’ve seen in a while. I genuinely think the final will be decided by who shines out of him and Ronaldo.
Olivier Giroud (8) – The big fella has done well. The French don’t like him because he can be too static and cumbersome but if you put somebody up around him he’s a lot more effective. I’m his biggest critic and fan at times and it’s an eye opener for Arsene Wenger about what playing somebody alongside him does.
