Euro Vision: And then there were four, the Euro 2016 semi-finals preview. Will World Champions Germany end France’s hoodoo at home, and can minnows Wales keep their miracle run going against underwhelming Portugal? Gulf News’ Sports Desk discuss expectations for the upcoming Euro 2016 semi-finals. See more at: http://gulfnews.com/gntv
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00:00And then there were four. After three weeks, we've said goodbye to 20 teams, leaving us
00:10with just Wales versus Portugal and Germany versus France. Only two, of course, can make
00:15it through to the final, and here to share their expert opinions is Golf News deputy
00:19sports editor Duncan Hare and sports reporter Ashley Hammond. Now, gentlemen, the biggest
00:25talking point remains the fact that Wales have got to the semifinals, which is quite
00:29a remarkable achievement, but what is the secret of their success? I don't want to overanalyse
00:35it. I think they've worked hard for each other. They understand what it means to the country.
00:40They understand what it means to themselves and their careers. I think it basically is
00:45just their ability, their effort, their teamwork, their spirit. That's how they've gone this
00:52far, I think. I wouldn't disagree with you at all, actually. I think that is the astonishing
00:56team spirit that they have. They really do believe in themselves and one another as well.
01:01It truly is a team effort, a bit like Leicester City, to be honest. I think it's quite interesting,
01:04though, if you look at it in terms of analysing, in terms of the tactics, two teams who've
01:11played a very unfashionable 3-5-2 formation have gone very far in this tournament, Italy
01:15and also Wales themselves. I think Wales defensively have been strong in midfield, but they've
01:22got some good players apart from Gareth Bale as well.
01:24Yeah, that's true. They're not just a one-man team, as everyone thought they were going
01:29into the tournament. I also think the relationship between the players and the coach, the rapport
01:33that they've got is hugely important and you've seen that lacking in other teams.
01:36Massively so.
01:37Namely England, I think.
01:38They will, however. Aaron Ramsey is going to be a big miss in the semi-final. It will
01:43be very interesting to see who they bring in. Speaking of Leicester, they might bring
01:46Andy King in to replace him, which I think will be a more solid midfield, which might
01:50work against them against Portugal. They might need to do that anyway.
01:52They will miss him. He's been so hard working all the way through. I think he's been taken
01:55off as a sub right at the end and you can see there's nothing left in him.
01:58He has that extra quality.
01:59All the Welsh players have played like that.
02:01Now obviously we want to see Wales go on and do quite well and we'd love for them to get
02:05to the final, but how worried are we that Portugal are going to get another lucky break?
02:12I think it'd be an injustice if Portugal actually got to this final, I think, in terms of any
02:16football fan that's watched this tournament. Very likely, though, to be honest. Portugal
02:21seem to be getting through this tournament by the skin of their teeth. They've not actually
02:24won a match.
02:25In 90 minutes.
02:26In 90 minutes. They've not actually won a match. I don't think that can be overemphasised
02:30enough. In all the areas of the field you want your teams to do well to progress, they're
02:37failing. It's almost baffling. I think the only word you can use is resilience, that
02:42Portugal have actually managed to get this far in the competition.
02:45I've said it before in the last rounds that they would get through by the skin of their
02:48teeth and I think it's no different now. I think we're going to see Portugal in the
02:51final and it is an injustice to football, but sadly that's how football can be sometimes.
02:58You look at Ronaldo and Nani, it doesn't work at all. You look at the midfield areas, again,
03:02they've not been... Even Renato Sanchez, everyone's going about Renato Sanchez, he's not been
03:06that impressive when he's come in. Look at the defence, they've changed their centre
03:09half throughout the competition. I don't know it's a fait accompli that Portugal are going
03:14to get through. I really think that the tournament Wales have had compared to them, I think any
03:19football fan would hope that Wales actually get through to the final.
03:22They've got through on the skin of their teeth and I think they're riding their luck and
03:26luck's obviously on their side if they've got this far. I'd love to see Wales go through
03:31but I can just see it being an annoying penalty shootout or a last minute goal. It's going
03:35to be a heartbreaker and it's going to happen as well.
03:38Do we see Ronaldo coming to the fore? Do we see Ronaldo actually...
03:40That's the thing, we've been saying this throughout the competition, but for those
03:44two goals against Hungary, we haven't seen much of him, have we?
03:48He's wasted up there, he really is. Him and Nani just do not work as a centre forward
03:53pairing.
03:54But again, if anyone can turn it on and get through and pull it out of the bag for Portugal
03:58to finally get into some sort of rhythm, it's that man.
04:02It would be ironic, wouldn't it, if this Portugal team was the one that actually ended that
04:05nation's Hoodoo when you compare this side to the great teams they've had in the past.
04:10In 2004 when they should have won it against Greece at home.
04:13Luis Figo, Rui Costa, Paulo Sousa.
04:17Great team.
04:18Now in our other semi-final, France take on Germany and we all saw Germany versus Italy.
04:23Germany, I think we all agree, did not look themselves. How much are they going to need
04:28to improve to take on, let's face it, what looks like quite a strong French side?
04:33Particularly France at home, it's going to be difficult. I think it's going to be a quest
04:37too far for this German side because, as you say, they're particularly off-colour.
04:40German sides of the past wouldn't have missed three penalties in a shootout.
04:44So they're really going to have to turn it on and I just don't see, from the suspensions
04:49and the injuries that they've got after that, what would have been quite a testing duel
04:53against Italy.
04:54I don't see that they've got perhaps the momentum that France have got going forward.
04:58There's a worry when Germany can't take penalties, absolutely.
05:01But taking serious, the bigger worry for them will be those suspensions, so particularly
05:04who they play up top and injuries.
05:07With Gomez out, you'd imagine, do they go with Götze?
05:11Is Götze really a centre forward?
05:13I'm not sure.
05:14Do they play Muller up top?
05:15Muller's probably been the most disappointing individual player at the tournament itself.
05:20Looking at midfield, Kadera's out, Schweinsteiger's about as well.
05:24You could see the French going over the top of all of them in midfield.
05:29Germany's best bet, ironically, might actually be taking it to extra time in penalties.
05:33I just think that all good things come to an end.
05:35I think this German dominance that we've seen over the past couple of years could be coming
05:40to an end against France.
05:41Okay guys, so come off the fence, who do we think our two finalists are going to be?
05:47France-Portugal final, France win, that's what I'd say.
05:50Easy, yeah?
05:51As simple as that, actually, is it?
05:53I don't have a clue.
05:54I think the thing about this tournament is that it's been de-surprises.
06:00I'll go with France as well.
06:01I think France will be too strong for Germany, but I'll go with Wales.
06:05France-Wales final.
06:06It's interesting, if you look at the history of French football, every time they've hosted
06:10the competition, they've won it, so I just can't see past that, can you?
06:13No, I think France could, I think France, I think it's obvious to say, but the winner
06:19of the France-Germany game will be big favourites going into the final, whoever they're up against.
06:23I think both of those sides are better than Wales and Portugal.
06:27As hard as it is for an Englishman to say this, I'd love to see Wales win it, but I
06:32just don't think they will.
06:33It just won't be enough for them, I think it's too far to go.
06:35Yeah, not sure that would be reciprocated the other way.
06:38No.
06:39But still, thank you very much, gentlemen.
06:40The semi-finals take place this week, Wednesday sees Portugal take on Wales, and Thursday
06:46is Germany versus France.
06:47As ever, you can catch the latest news, views, and results on golfnews.com, don't forget
06:52to follow us on Twitter at Golf News Sport using the hashtag Euro 2016.