Euro 2016 Diary: Seven goals and seven kingdoms

It's the eve of the Euro 2016 final and, on the back of six goals already, Griezmann is coming...

Published : Jul 11, 2016 00:35 IST

Antoine Griezmann, France's probable Golden Boot winner and player of the tournament, is set to go down as the star of Euro 2016.
Antoine Griezmann, France's probable Golden Boot winner and player of the tournament, is set to go down as the star of Euro 2016.
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Antoine Griezmann, France's probable Golden Boot winner and player of the tournament, is set to go down as the star of Euro 2016.

It's the eve of the Euro 2016 final and, on the back of six goals already, Griezmann is coming...

GOAL-LINE BLING

We all know Antoine Griezmann, France's probable Golden Boot winner and player of the tournament, who is set to go down as the star of Euro 2016. But what's with that strange, hand-dance celebration he pulled out of the bag against Germany?

Thankfully, the Atletico Madrid star took to his social media and helped us all to join the dots by shoe-horning his head into the video for Drake's hit single 'Hotline Bling'. "I've been doing it when I score for Atletico and I should have done it when I scored against Albania, but the emotion was too much and I forgot about it," said Griezmann, who will hope to keep his cool either side of goalscoring opportunities versus Portugal in Sunday's final.

GAME OF 'TOINES

While the man himself is keen to play the pop superstar, Marca is keen to cast Griezmann as the central figure in a television blockbuster.

Inspired by growing talk that the 25-year-old forward could be well-placed to end Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's dominance of the Ballon d'Or, the Spanish sports daily placed Griezmann in a Game of Thrones mock-up – taking his place on the fabled Iron Throne – flanked by those two established protagonists. 

Ronaldo, of course, can provide his own plot twist on Sunday, while Messi is brooding off screen having come into trouble with the Iron Bank.

THAT'S A RAP FOR POGBA

Paul Pogba might have played second fiddle to Griezmann during France's Euro 2016 run, but he is keen not to be outdone by his teammate when it comes to ridiculous dancing.

Moved back to a deeper midfield role at the same time as Griezmann's tournament ignited, Pogba's range of passing could well hold the "keys, keys, keys" to unlocking Portugal's defence at the Stade de France.

Other than that, we're all out of offers for what on earth the Juventus star is up to here.

MOUSSA MISCHIEF

Didier Deschamps had to tell the media gathered for his pre-final news conference that France midfielder Moussa Sissoko has been yanking its collective chain.

Asking whether the coach would keep his chosen XI secret until just before facing Portugal, a journalist cited Sissoko – who claimed Deschamps only told him he would start the quarterfinal versus Iceland two hours before kick-off as Les Blues boarded the team bus.

"That's not true, he's telling you that but it's not true – I told him that before," said the France boss. "They're clever, these guys. They tell you what you want to hear. The morning? The afternoon? The evening? Don't worry, the players are given plenty of forewarning."

FIRST BLOOD TO FRANCE

Rugby union is a growth sport in Portugal, although it might be better for Fernando Santos and his squad if they are yet to develop an affinity for the oval ball. France and Portugal met twice in rugby sevens on Saturday and, if you're an Iberian looking for omens, it wasn't pretty.

First the French women racked up 26 unanswered points against their Portuguese counterparts in a semifinal victory en route to winning the FISU World University Championship in Swansea.

In the Sevens Grand Prix Series in Exeter, France and Portugal's men were locked at seven points apiece at half-time. Final score? 35-7. Over to you, Cristiano.

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