Euro 2016: Antoine Griezmann urged to reduce Cristiano Ronaldo to tears when France take on Portugal at Stade de France
Griezmann is the top scorer at this year's tournament - and his manager hopes his net-busting isn't over for France just yet
ANTOINE GRIEZMANN has been told to inflict more Euro final misery on Cristiano Ronaldo.
Superstar Ron, then just 19, was left in tears after his Portugal side were runners-up to Greece in 2004.
And France boss Didier Deschamps wants star striker Griez to repeat the trick in tonight’s final in Paris.
He said: “All I want is Antoine helping his team to make France European champions. Portugal, with Cristiano, are thinking the same thing.”
Griezmann is the leading scorer at Euro 2016 with six goals.
And the Atletico Madrid forward will be looking for revenge after losing to Ronaldo’s Real side in the Champions League final.
Griezmann, 25, missed a penalty in that game, while Ronaldo scored the winner when it went to a shootout.
Chief Deschamps added: “Griezmann had a very busy, full campaign at Atletico, the last game of which was the Champions League final. He had to digest that.
“But he’s a very talented, clinical player. He gets the team playing. He’s fresh, available and has a lot of willingness. Antoine is a young player who has had a great campaign.
“Ronaldo has been at the top level for six, seven, eight years now and scores a lot of goals for his club team and the national team.”
Deschamps knows France must limit Ronaldo’s influence tonight.
The Real superstar, now 31, is at his fourth Euro finals.
His majestic header in Wednesday’s semi-final win over Wales was his ninth finals goal, equalling Michel Platini’s record.
Deschamps added: “If there is an anti-Ronaldo plan, no one has found it. He’s a top player.
“There are two things tough to combat in football — pace and the aerial threat.
“He has got great athletic attributes. It’s not that he can get up high but he can hang there as well.
“It would be great to neutralise him but we need to limit his influence. That will be important.”
Veteran defender Ricardo Carvalho was also in the Portugal squad that finished runners-up in 2004. The former Chelsea centre-back, 38, is hoping for a recall after being replaced by Southampton’s Jose Fonte.
He said: “I worked a lot to carry on and try to win something for my country.
“I helped in qualification and again in this tournament and it is very important for us to be in this final.
“Getting to a final is always a good memory — but when you lose it is difficult and everyone still remembers the final we lost.
“Now we have another chance and we deserve it.”
Carvalho says his Portugal team-mates must work together to make sure Ronaldo can shine against France tonight at Stade de France.
He added: “Everyone waits always for Cristiano.
“He is important for our team and the important thing is we are compact behind, and then up front we have always Cristiano and Nani to score.”