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European Championship | Final
Jul 10, 2016 at 8pm UK
 
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Joao Mario confident of Portugal upset in Euro 2016 final

:Headline: Joao Mario confident of Portugal upset in Euro 2016 final: ID:276354: from db_amp
Portugal midfielder Joao Mario is confident that his side can upset the odds and beat host nation France in the final of Euro 2016.

Portugal midfielder Joao Mario has insisted that his side have the belief to pull off an upset in the final of Euro 2016 on Sunday.

Fernando Santos's side reached just their second ever major final, and their first on foreign soil, courtesy of a 2-0 win over Wales on Wednesday, but they will go into Sunday's match in Saint-Denis as underdogs against host nation France.

In addition to their home advantage, France are on a 10-match winning streak against Portugal that stretches back more than 40 years, but Mario insists that they can end that barren streak.

"France is playing at home but they didn't show their spectacular football. France will get to us thinking about winning, we know we always lost to them but this will motivate us. The French media are sure of the win [for France]. We have lost a final already but this time we can make it. Probability counts for nothing and all the Portuguese bet on us. Since the beginning we said we could win the Euros," he told reporters.

"We have grown. We are into the final - anyone can win. We will start confident and motivated. On Sunday we will be at our best. Everyone will think this is a unique chance, we want to win the first title for Portugal. We mix youth with experience - this is the perfect mix. The veterans help us. We are ready and the coach knows what he's doing. All that matters is what you contribute to the group.

"The key is believing, never stop believing, correcting mistakes, keeping strong and staying together even in the not so good moments, like in the group stage. We believe in our colleagues next to us - this is the spirit that brought us here."

Portugal's previous European Championships final saw them beaten on home soil by shock champions Greece in 2004.

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