Euro 2016 Final: Early Preview for Portugal vs. France Championship

Portugal will meet hosts France in the final of UEFA Euro 2016 on Sunday at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. The former made it through after blanking Wales 2-0 in the semi-final, while the home nation beat Germany by the same scoreline in their last-four meeting.

Both teams boast excellent firepower up top, with Cristiano Ronaldo the leading light for Portugal, while jet-heeled Frenchman Antoine Griezmann, who struck twice in the semi-final, tops the tournament's scoring charts.

Ronaldo and Griezmann Duel Will be Key

Despite reaching the final, Portugal haven't earned many plaudits, mostly due to a rather dour and pragmatic brand of football. However, as Jan Hagen of Sport Witness has pointed out, winning the tournament is the memory worth making:

It's a view that echoes the words of veteran winger Ricardo Quaresma:

In fairness to the Portuguese, they have relied on a simple formula that places the responsibility for winning matches with their most dynamic players. Simply put, Portugal keep things tight and trust skilled forwards such as Ronaldo and ex-Manchester United team-mate Nani to grab the goals.

As Hagen detailed, it's been a working formula:

Yet, as good as Ronaldo has been, Griezmann has enjoyed an even more prolific tournament. His brace against Germany put him among some elite company for his nation in this competition, per Euro 2016:

BBC Match of the Day also carried this statistic revealing Griezmann has already equalled one storied French international:

It's little wonder Griezmann has thrived the way he has. His movement is the best in Europe, combining intelligence with keen instincts, precision timing and electric pace.

As a finisher, the 25-year-old Atletico Madrid man has developed into a cool customer. He's proficient with either foot and is also deceptively deadly in the air.

Tracking Griezmann will be the major challenge for Portugal in this final.

Midfield Powerhouses Will Collide

No other teams in the tournament can match the brawn both Portugal and France boast in midfield. Each squad is underpinned by a powerhouse workhorse or two.

For Portugal, Renato Sanches is the standout figure as an energetic and dynamic box-to-box runner. He's not lacking in confidence, as he recently proved by telling new club Bayern Munich: "I am looking forward to Bayern. And Bayern should be looking forward to me," per German publication Sport Bild (h/t MailOnline's Rhodri Cannon).

Petr David Josek/Associated Press

In all honesty, his bravado is merited after the way Sanches has bossed games at this tournament.

Yet he is unlikely to have the run of the middle of the park against a French team held together by the drive of Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi. The former is a £100 million target for Manchester United, according to Sky Sports News HQ.

He's merited that level of interest thanks to his unique blend of flair and physical power. If Pogba's in an influential mood, Portugal won't see enough of the ball to let their forward talents decide the match.

Portugal are playing like natural spoilers, but France have gathered momentum during the knockout stages. Playing in front of a home crowd will offer the final incentive Les Bleus need to raise the trophy.

Prediction: Portugal 1-2