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Portugal has spoiled the French party, and in doing so they win the European tournament for the first time.
It was also their first victory over France in 41 years, following 10 straight defeats.
More Euro 2016:
» Portugal are champions of a largely forgettable Euro 2016
» Match report: Portugal stun France to win Euro 2016
The hero is the striker Eder, who surely will be greeted with unease by his club fans in the north of France, as he cruelled the home nation on their big day.
His goal came late, but it was special stike – perhaps one of the most significant goals scored by a Portuguese player.
On the field following the match the French players are left distraught, while Portugal are, understandably, in ecstasy!
As well, Cristiano Ronaldo completes his collection of European silverware, albeit despite playing a minimal role in this game. But that only makes the achievement more notable for Portugal.
Final score:
Portugal 1
France 0
History stands to be repeated once again on French soil, as the Euro 2016 Final takes place at Paris’ Stade de France between Portugal and hosts France. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5am (AEST) on Monday morning.
1984 and 1998 are the marking points of glory in French football, both achieved on home soil, and both stirring the nation to collective rapture.
France have known that they would confront the comparisons with those great teams should they reach this stage, and reach it they did, and in a manner that has football once again as the nation’s lingua franca, even if matters off the field and in real life continue to face division.
The game for Portugal carries a completely different dimension – while their opponents aim to emulate a glorious past, le Selecao are in the quest of creating it.
So it is they stand to redeem for the unlosable final of 12 years ago, when a stunned nation were humbled at home by Greece.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Carvalho remain from that class of 2004, and while the irrepressible Ronaldo will be the one likely to start from the beginning, it is a measure of Portugal’s failure to live up to realising the glory deserved of the world’s most identifiable player.
Portugal will likely field a full strength side, with the expectation that key defender Pepe will be available after missing the semi-final victory over Wales, and will likely take the place of Bruno Alves at the back.
While Renato Sanches has been Portugal’s trump card discovered during the knockout stage, the work of Adrien Silva is also critical in nullifying opposition attacks, and Sanches is likely to start in tandem with William Carvalho as a defensive midfield duo charged with limiting the extensive work of the French midfield and forward Antoine Griezmann.
Ronaldo’s influence needs no embellishment, yet the work of his former Manchester United teammate Nani is likely to determine how often Portugal can foray forward. Ronaldo is the marquee man for Portugal, and given his penchant for performing the extraordinary, the Stade de France could witness a boilover.
France will have been buoyed by the manger of their progression, most notably capped by a convincing semi-final victory over world champions Germany.
In Griezmann, France have a likely Golden Boot winner, plus a forward equipped to exploit Portugal’s lack of pace across the back.
Coupled along with the more direct Olivier Giroud, Portugal’s backline could be exposed in trying to focus their attention to the centre of the park, which makes space available for both Dimitri Payet and Moussa Sissoko to foray to the flanks.
France can likely enjoy a greater rate of possession than their 35 per cent against Germany, and it may be that they will require a greater stability across in midfield in order to break down the discipline of the Portuguese.
In the hostile cauldron that is the Stade de France, the home side start as overwhelming favourites. In a battle that pits France’s ability to draw success on home soil, against Ronaldo’s at-times solo efforts to move himself into football’s pantheon of greatness, only one may prevail.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5am (AEST) on Monday morning.
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