1. Can Bale trump Ronaldo?
THE MAIN SUBPLOT being discussed ahead of today’s Wales-Portugal encounter is inevitably the meeting between clubmates Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
There has been talk of tension between the pair virtually ever since Bale moved to Real Madrid, and perhaps naturally, Ronaldo is understood to be a little insecure by the thought of the Welshman being his long-term replacement at the world’s biggest club, according to some reports.
And while both are understood to be among football’s most talented players, neither have truly set Euro 2016 alight as of yet, despite flashes of brilliance from the pair.
Yet a win tomorrow for either individual would surely rank as up there with the very best achievements of their respective careers — unlike at club level, victory would mean dragging a bunch of decent-but-not-exactly-world-class players to the brink of glory. And arguably not since Diego Maradona in ’86 has the feat been achieved by a top player in a team surrounded by overachievers.
2. Time for Pogba to step up
With Man United and Real Madrid both interested, wantaway Juventus star Paul Pogba is understood to be demanding wages of €300,000 a week.
Consequently, with such exorbitant demands come huge expectations.
Pogba has certainly been at worst adequate in the European Championships thus far, and he looked particularly dominant at times against both Ireland and Iceland in the knockout stages.
The 23-year-old is an incredible athlete and has a level of technique comparable to another tall, elegant French midfielder, Patrick Vieira.
Nevertheless, tomorrow against reigning world champions Germany, he faces the acid test.
At the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, Pogba must prove he has the temperament to match the hype and is able to get the better of midfielders such as Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos, who is apparently worth €120 million more than the Frenchman, at least according to the German international’s brother.
3. Do France have a Germany complex?
While both sides have evolved since the 2014 World Cup, a number of the players involved in the last big game between the teams are still very much involved now.
Germany ultimately triumphed 1-0 in the Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, as Mats Hummels’ 14th-minute header meant his side progressed to the semi-finals at the expense of Didier Deschamps’ men.
Indeed, of the four times that the two sides have met at major tournaments, Germany have won the last three, while France have not overcome the Mannschaft since a 6-3 victory in a 1958 encounter.
Psychologically, this trend could have an impact on proceedings, although predictably, German boss Joachim Low dismissed suggestions that the past would have a significant bearing on his team’s immediate future.
I don’t believe France have a Germany complex, we didn’t have an Italy complex,” Low said. “I don’t put much stock in such talk. What has happened in the past does not count.”
The 56-year-old coach also praised France’s display against Iceland and suggested that they could be more difficult to stop than the Italians, who Germany defeated in the quarter-finals to reach this stage.
“France played an excellent game. The early goal helped them. They will have all kinds of confidence and are playing at home,” he said.
“I said right from the start that with their home advantage they are one of the favourites for the title.
We know what we have to do. I am looking forward to the match. It will be very even. I love knockout games like this.”
“I am not sure (on our defensive line-up), I will have to think about it more,” Low added. “Against Italy a three-man defence was the right solution.
“France are less predictable than Italy because players like (Antoine) Griezmann and (Paul) Pogba are always moving positions.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
