Dugout Discussion
10 July 2016 2104 comments
Paul Paul
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Euro 2016 comes to its conclusion this evening as France take on Portugal in Paris.

The hosts are firm favourites to triumph after seeing off Germany 2-0 in the semi-finals on Thursday evening. Didier Deschampsโ€™ side have scored at least twice in five of their six matches over the tournament โ€“ indeed, a goalless draw against Switzerland in their final group fixture was the only occasion that Les Bleus have failed to chalk up a victory.

Portugalโ€™s road to the final has been less convincing. Fernando Santosโ€™ side didn’t win any of their first five fixtures in normal time before defeating Wales 2-0 over 90 minutes.

Delving into the data, the two nations boast very similar threats in the final third. In terms of minutes per attempt over the tournament, France just edge it by 5.3 to Portugalโ€™s 5.5, whilst they also have the slimmest of leads for shots on target (36 to 34).

The home side have been far more clinical. Deschampsโ€™ troops have netted 12.3% of their opportunities compared to their opponentsโ€™ 7.1%, which equates to 13 goals to eight.

At the back, the pair have served up three clean sheets apiece, with Franceโ€™s defence slightly more resilient, having conceded four times to Portugalโ€™s five. Given that they are also near-identical for shots inside the box conceded (33 to 31), though, tonightโ€™s clash may not be quite as one-sided as many anticipate.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

2,104 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. BUZZBOMB โ™ก
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Pressure of a nation. . .

    Andy Murray 1. France 0.

  2. โญ Bemba_Da โญ
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    pogba value still 100m after this tournament?

    1. โ˜…Kunthemanโ˜…
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      150 now that he's a finalist ๐Ÿ˜‰

    2. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Renato Sanches must be a £150m player in that case.

      1. Ayew Serious
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        Eder 350?

        1. Camp No No
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 2 days ago

          ๐Ÿ˜†

    3. TK74
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      easily

    4. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      45m more likely now

    5. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      It was never even £70m.

    6. La Roja
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      95m

    7. KingNidge
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      no but we will probably offer 200 just to piss people off even more and because we can

    8. Camp No No
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Easily. Why not?

  3. Ayew Serious
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Fpl isn't open, don't check

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      How about now?

      1. Ayew Serious
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        Yes, oh no wait it's not.

  4. Epic Fail
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Just imagine if France had a decent striker...

    1. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      like Benzema?

      1. Epic Fail
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        Can't be French otherwise he'd have been picked.

        1. Moin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 2 days ago

          true...

    2. Camp No No
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Yeah. Too bad they don't have a one... wait, just noticed that Benzema is French! Why didn't they select him?

    3. Ayew Serious
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Someone like Benzema or Gameiro

    4. Camp No No
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      To be fair, that attack worked fine as long as Giroud was on. There was little to blame him for.

    5. โญ Bemba_Da โญ
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      they scored quite a few goals

      midfield was the weak link, not enough contribution and payet tailed off towards the end of the tournament

  5. Lone Wolf FPL
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    408 pts overall

    1. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      24 points scored today, 305 in total...

  6. VS10_
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Renato Sanches named Young Player of the Tournament.

    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Heads and shoulders above anyone 'young'.

      1. KingNidge
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        Definitely.. no one in the 22 and under category really came close to him

    2. KingNidge
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Much like Pogba at the last WC... hope young Renato is prepared to be ripped a new one if he doesn't light the place up at the next WC

  7. milanista10
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    436 points! Should be enough.. It is enough!! Thank you Portugaaaaaal!

    1. JK - Cønt โญ
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      savour it and get a grav ๐Ÿ˜€

    2. VS10_
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Well played. Couple of above you will be kicking themselves for playing it safe.

      1. JK - Cønt โญ
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        always nice to see someone take a gamble and have it pay off

        1. VS10_
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 2 days ago

          There's two 6 points behind 1st and 7 points ahead of milanista who really should have gone for 8 Portugal, but fortunately they didn't.

    3. uhahpaulmcgrath
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      did you win it ?

    4. George James
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Congrats mate. Great effort that ๐Ÿ™‚

    5. sinik
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      #1!?!? good stuff!

    6. 420king
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      gratz

  8. Jazz!
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Banked on France heavily and I'm ranked 14k ... Looks like my free fall continues ๐Ÿ˜†

    Bring on FPL

  9. Syd.
    • 17 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Ronaldo saying F... Yous F... yous

  10. schlupptheweek
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    FPL have tweeted
    "We regret to inform users but due to the shocking turn of events we've had to hold back FPL an extra 2 weeks to increase Eder's price from 4.5M to 7.0M. All other players prices will also have to be inputted into the system again #logistics"

    1. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Eder plays for Lille and FPL is confirmed to be opening at 4am tomorrow morning.

    2. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Eder plays for Lille OSC

    3. George James
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Confirmed??? Haha by who

      1. schlupptheweek
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        Must have been from a different source. Maybe Fantasy French Football

  11. Sif
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Spare a thought for the blue confetti.

  12. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Ronnie is something else ๐Ÿ˜†

  13. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Special mention to Eric Dier for choosing to play for England over Portugal

    1. Sif
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Born in France, plays for Algeria.
      Mahrez kicking himself.

    2. KingNidge
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      ๐Ÿ™‚

  14. tkmlim
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Portugal must be so happy the tournament was extended to 24 teams.

    1. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      They'll probably change the structure so no 3rd place team will ever win again.

      1. Camp No No
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        That's easy. Make it back so that the 3rd placed teams don't qualify from group stage.

    2. Camp No No
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      ^This! ๐Ÿ˜†

      Are they the first lucky losers to win a major tournament, btw? Can't remember any.

      1. Camp No No
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        In youth internationals maybe.

      2. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        Well, Denmark sort of.....

        1. Camp No No
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 2 days ago

          In a sense, yes, but not in the tournament itself. Only the 2 best advanced from groups back then.

          The EC the way it should be: 8 teams in 2 groups. No BS.

          1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 2 days ago

            Ah sorry I misunderstood completely....

  15. Captain Hindsight
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Did anyone (c) Éder?

    He's looking like a good choice now

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Pool might buy him now.

      1. Syd.
        • 17 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        Needs to for Southampton first

  16. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Good to see Christian Karembeu lifting the trophy, well deserved.

  17. 412 points! ๐Ÿ™‚ Thank you everyone for all the help! Roll on fantasy!!! ๐Ÿ˜€

  18. โ˜…Kunthemanโ˜…
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Somehow with 8 French players in my starting 11 I've still won my cash ML haha

    1. Root
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      I won my mini-league by 1 point. 1st place 400€, 2nd only 150€.

      Opponent had Rui Patricio (C), 120+3' YC ๐Ÿ˜€

  19. Jazz!
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    https://twitter.com/101greatgoals/status/752254896217419776

    ๐Ÿ˜† (Sorry if this has been posted before)

    1. KingNidge
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Berbs posted it but i have no problem in watching it again lol

      1. Davido989
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        It's hilarious

        1. KingNidge
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 2 days ago

          Doesn't look overly sore haha that's the funniest bit

    2. โ˜…Kunthemanโ˜…
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      ๐Ÿ™‚ Overreaction much?

      1. Camp No No
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        He's been training that for the match time injury faking.

  20. sinik
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    is 35 points decent?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      It's ok. Beats plenty today.

      1. sinik
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        green from 1.6k maybe?

    2. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      No

      1. sinik
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        ๐Ÿ™

  21. Lone Wolf FPL
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    I was sorry for Ronaldo today and I know he is good but I don't think that CR7 won this for Portugal, whole team did it

    1. KingNidge
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Of course they did they all deserve huge credit.. Pepe has gone up a lot in my estimation as a footballer in particular

      1. Syd.
        • 17 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        He has always been a good footballer but a better actor

        1. KingNidge
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 2 days ago

          Aye he's still a jizzwicket of the highest order i just didn't rate him particularly highly as a player either until i now

  22. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Southampton must be bracing themselves for some bids for Fonte

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Only the Pool bid counts.

      1. Davido989
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        Entitled to some sort of promotional offer.

    2. George James
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Good player

    3. Ayew Serious
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Cedric and him the only two premier league players in the squad.

      Both Southampton

  23. Weeb Kakashi
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Was winning the league till that goal!! Pfff.......done with this

    When is fol releasing? Cant wait!

    1. Weeb Kakashi
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Fpl*

    2. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Later.

    3. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      5 hours, 5 minutes.

    4. Slam
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Sometime early this week

    5. Syd.
      • 17 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      All the smart kids know ๐Ÿ˜‰

  24. Fergietime
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Dunphy is always so serious, every post match is like a history lesson.

  25. BlzE_94
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    "some a little too deep"

  26. Epic Fail
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    I can say it now as I didn't wanna jinx it, but I was expecting a terrorist attack at some point during the tournament. Especially given how easily fans got flares in. Pleasantly surprised.

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      I thought similar.

      I'm glad we were wrong

    2. โ˜…Kunthemanโ˜…
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Thought the same. Especially with the flares and the pitch invader.

    3. Syd.
      • 17 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Some fans had extremely sore arses

  27. Optimus.
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    John Giles retiring from Rte2 football analysis

    Honesty of effort ๐Ÿ™

    1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Who is going to talk about Paul Scholes ๐Ÿ˜ฏ ๐Ÿ™

    2. Ayew Serious
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Who'll be his replacement?

      Duff?

    3. Holy See
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Yup, sad to see him go . Silly to let him go ๐Ÿ™

  28. Sillet Bang
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Right onto FPL.........any news yet

  29. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    ban the euro talk, let's talk fpl

    1. Slam
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      This ๐Ÿ™‚

      1. Davido989
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        Any early plans?

        1. Slam
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 2 days ago

          Man U defence and Man City attack ๐Ÿ™‚
          That's all I've come up with anyway

    2. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Fine when is fpl being released ?

  30. uhahpaulmcgrath
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    when is the uefa table going to update ?