Football is a game of small margins, and the further up the food chain you get the smaller those margins are.
When it comes to a game of international football, games can be decided by one seemingly minor thing.
As France get ready to kick off Euro 2016 at the Stade de France against Romania on Friday night, we take a look at the three key match ups that could decide the game.
1. Antoine Griezmann vs Vlad Chiriches
Romania boasted the stingiest defence in qualification for Euro 2016, conceding just two goals in their ten games. While their group was arguably the weakest (with Northern Ireland topping the group), there is still a lot to be said for that kind of record.
France will have to break down a team who rely heavily on not conceding goals, and former Spurs man Vlad Chiriches is key in that regard. If he can keep Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann quiet, then Romania have a chance of grabbing a point. If not, then it could be a route.
2. Paul Pogba vs the Romanian midfield
We don’t need to tell you that Paul Pogba is good at football. Like, really good. Manchester United fans know all about the Juventus midfielder, having cried themselves to sleep every night since he was allowed to leave Old Trafford.
Romania are not a team with a lot of flair. They scored just 11 goals in qualifying for the tournament, but what they lack in finesse they can make up for in grit.
If the Romanian midfield can get stuck into Pogba early on and disrupt his flow, then they can slow France down and prevent proper service to their dangerous frontline.
3. Didier Deschamps vs himself
Arguably the only person who can get in the way of France tonight is their own coach. Didier Deschamps has not yet proven himself on the international stage as a manager, and the pressure of a home tournament could get to him. Even though he did captain France to World Cup glory at home in 1998, it’s a very different proposition as a manager.
In the recent past, France have struggled to maintain a positive team spirit at major tournaments with managers often leaving out key players for confusing reasons.
Deschamps has already taken a risk by not calling up Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, and if France struggle to assert themselves in their first competitive game in nearly two years, then the pressure will only mount.
