France vs Portugal ‘Who are You?’: a SAFC supporter cries forcaportugal

SAM
Our Sam on the right


Tomorrow: another SAFC season ticket holder – VĂ©ronique, a solidly French adopted Mackem – exudes passion for La Belle France …

Monsieur Salut writes: here’s a special treat from the tireless souls at Salut! Sunderland. Many readers enjoy the Who are You? series. Why not one for the Euro 2016 final?

Help was sought from miles around. Loads of friends of this site tried to dig up suitable candidates, a supporter of France and a supporter of Portugal.

And we ended up – I am delighted to say – with two Sunderland fans. Once Ronaldo and Griezmann had declined our offer (“reward in heaven guv, honest”), it could not have worked out better. Shout-outs are due to Kay and Steve, also Sunderland supporters, for putting me on the track of Sam Verissimo, home-and-away regular but also half-Portuguese.

So let’s start with Portugal, whose plodding route to the final has underwhelmed most neutrals. Sam describes himself at Twitter as ‘a born entertainer who apparently looks like Michael Mcintyre’ and has a SoL season ticket despite living in London. He fears the worst for his country on Sunday …

sam
Sam in training for Sunday night

Salut! Sunderland: until the Wales game, Portugal hardly set the tournament on fire with beautiful, winning football – but were you just saving yourselves for the finale?

Sam: If Ronaldo had scored the penalty against Austria I think you’d have seen a different team. However they never like to do things the easy way!

It was an excellent performance in the semi-final. Why do think the play in previous games was so poor and also dull, by comparison?

A case of lulling other teams into a false sense of security. The old adage no one wants to come too early!

Ronaldo and Nani were obvious stars but who else will you be counting on to produce some magic at the Stade de France on Sunday?

Ricardo Quaresma does not get the recognition he deserves. Very difficult when the focus is always on Ronaldo.

Did you expect Portugal to get right to the final. If so, why; if not, why not?

Picking Portugal up at 20/1 was a no-brainer.

Which Portuguese club side do you support?

CS Maritimo.

CS Maritimo
CS Maritimo
Sam
Sam in pensive mood

What is your own story – the reasons for Portugal support, who you are, what you do, where you live, the way you follow football? [I didn’t realise he was one of ours when posing the questions – Ed]

I’m a bit if an enigma. Portuguese father. Scottish mother. Live in London. Travel home and away with Sunderland. Daft enough to have a season ticket.

Do you have a British or other non-Portuguese club that you follow? [Ditto – didn’t know – Ed]

Shockwaves … certainly not Newcastle!

Who have been the standout countries and players of the tournament for you
?

Iceland for obvious reasons but I think Hungary came out and did it for Fulop. They showed why they used to be a great footballing nation. Standout player has to be Hector for Germany for me.

Who has seriously disappointed?

Portugal. Their first four games. Saying that I guess a draw against them wasn’t quite as bad as losing to them! Say no more.

How and where will you watch the final and what will be the score?

In my local in front of the big screen with a pint of Sagres in my hand. Head says France will clinch it – home advantage will help. it kills me to say this but France 2-1

Interview: Colin Randall

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