Despite having reached the final after beating the all-powerful Germany in the semi-finals, the French are really concerned about their next rival Portugal. For Juventus left-back Patrice Evra who is already a veteran, this might be the last chance he gets at fighting for a trophy with his national team and Portugal is the last obstacle he needs to get past to get it. Evra doesn't understand the criticism against the Portuguese side, he believes they have been one of the best teams in the tournament.
Mostly because of Cristiano Ronaldo, but Portugal has also had great performances throughout the competition from players like Nani, Ricardo Quaresma and young star Renato Sanches. Evra thinks that the critics are looking at Portugal the wrong way, because it's not the fact that they weren't able to win a single match in 90 minutes until the semi-finals, it's more the fact that they didn't lose a single game until the final. That's the main thing you have to look at with Portugal.
Talking to beIN Sports about the final, Evra said: "It's a big match. Portugal is a very good team, one that was very much criticized. People said they hadn't won a game in 90 minutes. Everyone said Croatia was going to make it and if Portugal is there it's not for nothing, they deserve to be there. A final is a final, I'm going to play against some old teammates there. It's a big moment, but there are no gifts here."
Photo credit: Equipe de France