La semifinal more awaited on the one hand, and on the other the one that no one could have foreseen. The Europeans of football arrive at their last acts, presenting two profoundly different matches: Wednesday the surprising Wales will challenge the Portugal in the most important match in its history, while Thursday will be the turn of Germany e France, in what for many is already an anticipated final.
But let's go in order. Portugal and Wales approach their challenge in very different ways. The Lusitanians advanced slowly, without ever really convincing anyone, not even themselves. And especially without ever winning a single game: only draws, so far. Paradoxically, it was not CR7 to drag his teammates up to the penultimate act of the European Championships, but the teammates to drag the worst Ronaldo in history up to this point.
Ronaldo will challenge his teammate/rival Gareth Bale, perhaps the only champion capable of dragging his team into these European Championships, with the help of Aaron Ramsey and unexpected protagonists such as Robson-Kanu, author of the 2-1 goal against Belgium who for their part, despite a great Nainngolan, proved to be chronically unable to derive a whole from the sum of many talents, being reassembled by a much inferior but more organized team.
From Germany, alas, we know everything. THE world champions were among the big favorites going into the run-up and, by far, have always seemed the team best equipped to go all the way, even if they risk paying for a few too many injuries and the 120-minute battle plus penalties fought last Saturday against Conte's Italy, with which Low and his men broke a curse that had always lasted.
France, on the other hand, thanks to a rather soft draw and the elimination of England by Iceland, arrives at the appointment rested and full of confidence. Sunday's match against the Icelandic folk it felt more like competitive training and a chance for the talents of Griezmann, Pogba, Payet and Giroud to shine at their best. Thanks to its small champions and the very hot home support, France has all the credentials to challenge Germany as equals, in what, like it or not, is already the final of the European Championships for everyone.
