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.
