So Scolari sees Zidane as the key to all French success whereas I see Ribery, Vieria, Henry and a host of others. The French, who looked like a rabble at the start of this competition have finally become a team in their last two games and look undefeatable because of it. If the Portuguese focus just on Zidane, they'll probably lose.
France are understandably favourites for this game, with William Gallas knowing that his side must keep their cool against the tempremental Portuguese. He knows that with six of France's major players one booking away from a potential Final suspension, the Portuguese will try and destabilise them claiming they will use "actions and little fouls".
This will be hard in a game that will have so much passion. Gallas along with Claude Makelele are likely to face Chelsea team mates Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho and Maniche and are aware of what happened when a certain Portuguese player met his team mate in the quarter final.
Gallas is also aware of the Portuguese penchant for diving and will adopt his defensive style to cope with it.
French coach Raymond Domenech refused to be brought into a slagging match concerning Portugal's spirit of fair play but accepts that they have world class players managed by a world class coach. He also says it will be hard to break down such an organised side.
Most of the French team, inlcuding Lilian Thuram and Franck Ribery believe that Portugal's strength in defence will make them a tougher proposition than the Brazilians.
Scolari meanwhile has launched a scathing defence of the team that have cheated their way to the semi-final. Scolari was criticised in the French press for how his side beat England and with two red cards shown in their previous game against Holland there are many who see the Portuguese as unworthy semi-final fare.
Scolari has said that he will not focus on the 'war of words' that is dogging his team's semi-final appearance, interestingly using the argument that his team have done no wrong because 'everyone else does it'. He probably said this before sticking his tongue out and waggling his hand in the general direction of the media.
Portugal are unlikely to change their approach for this game says Scolari, although they will take special measures to try and deal with Zidane (after which he said something non-sensical about crying).
Scolari believes that his side's warrior spirit will see them through against France despite them not winning against them since 1975. Citing venegence after the bitter Euro 2004 Final defeat to Greece as a spur, he says that this is Portugal's chance to create history after they blew it then. This new-found team spirit Scolari believes will be the deciding factor.
Scolari has been here before, as have the French so little will be new for both teams. If there is any justice in the world then the French should win this one and I expect them too - they have found their form at the right time and they should be too much for Portugal.
FRANCE v PORTUGAL INDEX INCULDING THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS PREVIEW
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PORTUGAL v FRANCE - ANOTHER CLASSIC NO-LOSE BET
For yesterday's Germany v Italy arbitrage preview, we guaranteed you a withdrawable cash profit, whatever the outcome of the match and it worked like a dream.
The maximum profit was realised with the draw at ninety minutes and the intention was to repeat the formula today, however, the bet was so good that one of the bookies got on our case and asked us to pull it or they would stop doing business with us.
We take a very dim view of that action and in no way will it stop us doing arbitrage as this site was set up to advise our readers how to profit from the bookies. If they don't like it, they are in the wrong business.
So here's our France v Portugal arbitrage preview and it's a little bit different as we only need to back two possible outcomes to guarantee a withdrawable cash profit, whatever the outcome of the match.
The whole system hinges on the bonuses that you get from our two chosen bookies so you can't do this if you already have an account at either firm. If that is the case, let us know and we'll try to find you an alternative bookie.
Here we go then. Follow these simple instructions for a guaranteed cash profit on France v Portugal.
1. Open Your New Accounts
Open an account with
Open an account with Extrabet
You have temporarily laid out a total of £137. I stress temporarily...
2. Place Your Bets
Back Portugal to qualify at 11/4 with £37 with
Make sure you back them to qualify and not to win in ninety minutes. Portugal v France is on the front page of the site. On the right there is a button called 'More Bets'. Hover over it and a pop up will appear. The first link is the one we want, 'to qualify'.
Back France @ 1/2 with £100 Extrabet
Again, make sure you back them to qualify and not to win in ninety minutes. Go to 'Football' (top left hand link) and hit 'To Reach Final' (second link under World Cup).
3. Collect Your Winnings
If Portugal qualify for the final, you will collect £138.75 from
If France qualify for the final, you will collect £150 from Extrabet
As you will have noticed, you will make a profit on the match, whoever qualifies but here comes the best bit...
4. Collect Your Bonuses
If Portugal qualify for the final you will collect an extra £100 bonus from
If France qualify for the final win, you will collect an extra £12.50 bonus from Extrabet
5. The Summary
You are about to lay out £137 for the duration of the match and at the final whistle you will end up with a profit of either £1.75 or £13.
You will then collect a bonus of either £100 or £12.50 making the very worst case scenario a £25.50 cash profit on the whole deal, if France make it to the final.
However, if Portugal prevail you will make a clear £101.75 profit.
There are no free bets involved in this bet. Everything that you make will be clear cash profit and is withdrawable as soon as it hits your account.
Too good to be true? Well here's the catch for you. If you follow the instructions to the letter and it doesn't happen like we say it will, then we will refund any losses that you make. No strings, no catches, just a straight refund of your losses if you don't make what we say you will make.
As with any offer, there are obviously terms and conditions attached, available on the relevant sites. There is nothing unusual about the t's & c's from our chosen three companies but you should have a read anyway.
If you already have one or more accounts with our chosen bookies, you won't be able to qualify for the bonuses, which is what this whole thing hinges on. But don't worry. Just drop us a quick email and we will try to find you an alternative bookie.
Finally, the odds can change and even though this is rare, you should check them before placing your bets.
Don't forget that if this doesn't work for you, we will refund any losses that you make, provided that you follow the instructions to the letter and are not already an existing account holder at either of the bookies that we have chosen.
Please feel free to mail us with any questions that you may have. We'll get back to you well before the match.
Steve Goldby
NB: YOU MUST CLICK ON THE BANNERS OR LINKS ON THIS PAGE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE REFUND GUARANTEE.
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