Ronaldo won't be the only Real Madrid star who will play his second European final of the year, centre-back Pepe has already confirmed that he is fully fit to face the French and won't miss this game for anything in the world. During this Saturday practice, he stepped on the field and looked as if the muscular problems he had against Wales weren't even there. After finishing the training session, he spoke to the press ahead of the game.
Asked if this was the biggest game he's played all year compared to the Champions League final he played for Real Madrid, Pepe said: "Yes, it is the biggest game, because I am representing my people, my country," he said. "We want to write our names down in history. And we believe that we can play well. We want to follow the gaffer's orders and we hope to bring great joy to all the Portuguese players. Tomorrow we will have 11 million people, 11 players and three players to come on. Everyone will want to write their name into the history of Portuguese football."
He also analyzed the French national team: "I think the French players all have great quality. I've played against Griezmann several times in Spain. He's not very tall but he's very adept at figuring out where the ball will be. He's a very important player in the French team. It is important not to focus on one player but to focus on France as a team."
Asked about the Ballon d'Or, Pepe thinks Ronaldo has already won it even if Portugal doesn't win the final: "As for the Ballon d'Or, I don't think there is anything at stake. The most important thing is for Cristiano to be at the top of this game. He has proven over and over what he can do and he can do so again. I'm privileged to be able to train with someone who is an amazing person, Cristiano Ronaldo. Regardless of what the detractors may say he is still here, he is still playing for the team. He is very important for the Portuguese national team and is very important for football. When we think about France we have to think about the team. They are a very strong team and any one of them can score from one moment to another."
Photo credit: Portugal National Team