be fair, he played some lovely strokes here - he knows his game, h

SAINT-DENIS, France -- France puts its formidable record in finals on the line when the European Championship hosts try to deny Cristiano Ronaldos Portugal a first major football title on Sunday.French players have lifted the trophy in three of four finals over 32 years: Euro 84 and the 1998 World Cup on home soil, as well as Euro 2000.A nation still scarred by last years terror attacks will seek sporting salvation from its football heroes and a chance to party again in the streets of Paris, where security has been intense during the tournament.French law enforcement authorities pledged extremely high security in Paris for Sundays final, with thousands of police patrolling as hundreds of thousands of fans mass in the French capital.Security forces have three key venues to protect: The Stade de France stadium hosting the final -- outside of which three suicide bombers blew themselves up last year, the 92,000-capacity fan zone in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, and the Champs-Elysees boulevard, which will likely be swamped with fans after the match.Mathias Vicherat, the Paris Mayors chief of staff, said some 1,900 police and other security officers would patrol the fan zone, while the citys police chief, Michel Cadot, said 3,400 officers would patrol the Champs-Elysees, some of them redeployed from the stadium and fan zone after the final kicks off.Portugals most famous player since Eusebio warned the French not to underestimate Portugal.They are, in my opinion, favorites because they are playing at home and thats a big advantage, Ronaldo said. The whole country is going to support them, but ... were going to be difficult to beat.The Portuguese, however, are perennial also-rans on the big occasion, reaching only one final in their history 12 years ago and losing at home to unfancied Greece. Determined to foil French celebrations, Portugal defender Pepe hopes Sundays Euro 2016 final will replicate Euro 2004 in Portugals favor this time, with the hosts upset again by the outsiders.That would be amazing, coach Fernando Santos said. We want to bring great joy to the Portuguese people.The final at the Stade de France will be Portugals 35th European Championship game, the most any team has played in the tournament without ever lifting the cup. Ronaldo, who has collected every major honor in club football, will not want his international career ending trophyless like compatriot Eusebio.Its something that I always dreamed of, said Ronaldo, whose side has won just once in 90 minutes at Euro 2016. It would be a huge achievement if I could win something with Portugal.For a generation of France players this is their first major final, particularly Antoine Griezmann, the star of his home tournament with six goals heading into the final -- double Ronaldos tally.Griezmann was just a teenager starting out his professional career at Real Sociedad when French football experienced one of its lowest points at the 2010 World Cup. The nation was stunned when the squad in South Africa went on strike in training to protest against striker Nicolas Anelka being sent home for insulting then-coach Raymond Domenech.It has taken six years for France to regain the adulation of its fan base.We left a negative image of French football around the world, defender Bacary Sagna said through a translator. We had to go right back to basics to get the public on our side again. Weve done a great deal of work to get into a final six years later. We want to put a smile on the faces of the French people. 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Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. James Harden Jersey . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Wellington coach Ernie Merrick has called for an end to the A-League salary cap, arguing the competition is too mature for a system thats become outdated.Each club can spend up to $2.6 million under the cap but are allowed to sign two marquees outside of it along with a season-long guest player - essentially a third marquee.With loyalty bonuses and other conditions thrown in, Merrick believes the set-up has passed its use-by date.I just dont know why we bother with a salary cap, he told Fairfax Media.I think weve grown up. Its been 10 years now, lets just get on with it.I dont know if it is a salary cap anymore, because there is a certain amount you can spend within the cap, then there are all these special, little loyalty bonuses and first-year player bonuses.There are that many I have lost track, and then on top of that you can now really sign three marquee players.Merrick, the A-Leagues longest-serving coach,, said clubs should be encouraged to spend big.ddddddddddddEven if it means the Phoenix dont have the cash to match the recruitment of big clubs like Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory and Manchester City-owned Melbourne City, who are understood to be on the verge of signing Tim Cahill.As an example he cited Americas Major League Soccer, which has a salary cap of $US3.49 million ($A4.68 million) along with three `designated players, equivalent to marquees, outside of that.Why not let people invest big? Merrick said.It just makes the league grow rapidly. Thats whats happening in the MLS.It would present more of a challenge to our club to recruit well economically, to develop players, to have an academy where youre bringing players through.The challenge and the pressure is good for everyone. ' ' '