PORTUGAL ARE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR HISTORY!
120'
There will be two minutes added on at the end of this match. Can France keep the dream alive, or will they be denied on home soil by the nation who suffered a similarly cruel fate in 2004?
119'
José Fonte gets yellow.
VITAL TACKLE! Sagna sticks a toe in to poke the ball away from Quaresma, who appeared to be through on goal as he latched onto the end of a pass from Mario on the counter! Portugal are looking more likely to score at the moment, despite France being the ones trailing!
Fonte is booked. Seconds later France appear to be through, but the offside flag denies Koscielny!
117'
Portugal into time-wasting mode as the training staff comes out to attend to Guerreiro, who seems to be suffering from a cramp. Clattenburg ushers him to the touchline, and Portugal will have to carry on here with 10 men, as they're out of substitutions.
115'
P. Pogba gets yellow.
Possession is conceded to Portugal and Pogba slides into a rash challenge to try and win it back, which will see him booked.
114'
Portugal still aren't showing signs of flinching in defence. They've put in a flawless showing at the back, and they have added motivation now with the lead to defend! France are throwing everything they have at them, but the hosts still can't find an opening. This has to be so frustrating for them.
112'
This crowd, although stunned, realise their team needs their support more than ever, and they've upped the noise level. Time is of the essence now, as France throw everything forward...
110'
A. Martial enters the game and replaces M. Sissoko.
Anthony Martial comes on to replace Sissoko. All hands on deck now for France!
109'
Éder has scored a goal for Portugal! Assist by João Moutinho.
Moutinho picks up the assist on what was really a moment of individual brilliance from Eder.
PORTUGAL ON THE BRINK OF HISTORY! Eder, a man who rarely scores for the national team, takes a pass from Moutinho and still has a lot of work to do from 25 yards out. He cuts onto his right, with France inviting him to shoot - and shoot he does! Eder unleashes the perfect strike towards the near-post, with Lloris' momentum taking him the other way, and euphoric celebration ensues!
108'
OFF THE BAR! Guerreiro takes in the absence of Ronaldo, and the left-back rattles the underside of the bar with Lloris beaten cleanly! Inches - mere inches - away for Portugal!
Minute
Description
107'
L. Koscielny gets yellow.
Matuidi will is walking a tight line! He lunges a bit carelessly into the back of Moutinho, who goes down in a heap. The France midfielder has already been booked, but escapes here with a warning.
CONTROVERSY! Koscielny is booked for handball, just a few yards outside the France area, but it was actually Eder who handled! Could you imagine the outrage if Portugal score here?
106'
Back underway!
105'
HALF-TIME IN EXTRA-TIME!
104'
FRANCE SURVIVE! Eder shows excellent strength to fend off his marker inside the area and get on the end of a corner, before sending a thumping header at goal. Lloris makes an instinctive save, but can only parry back into the danger area - lucky for him, Sagna is on hand to clear.
102'
France have Portugal hemmed back here, but they're lacking ingenuity. They're all out of sorts as they try and break down this seemingly impenetrable Portuguese back-line, with plenty of red shirts getting back to defend.
100'
STAT: This is the first European Championship final to remain scoreless through 90 minutes.
98'
William Carvalho gets yellow.
Nothing but cautions in extra-time! William takes one for the team, lunging in to trip up Coman and stop a potentially dangerous break.
97'
B. Matuidi gets yellow.
Matuidi's momentum takes him through Eder, who hung high in the air to get on the end of a ball over the top. The forward is sent hard into the ground and that will see the France and PSG midfielder booked.
95'
Raphaël Guerreiro gets yellow.
Both of Portugal's full-backs are in the book now as Guerreiro is issued a yellow card - even more reason for France to try and attack down the flanks.
94'
OFFSIDE! A free-kick leads to a headed chance for Portugal as Pepe sends an effort narrowly wide of the far post with Lloris beaten, but the flag went up anyhow so it wouldn't have counted.
93'
Portugal start the extra frame on the front foot, looking the fresher of the two sides, which is rather surprising given this is their third game of the tournament to be played beyond the 90 minutes - compared to none for France.
91'
Extra-time is underway at the Stade de France!
90' +3
We're headed for extra-time!
90' +2
THEY'VE NEARLY WON IT! You can't come closer than that without scoring! A brilliant piece of individual skill from Gignac sees him embarrass Pepe and pick out the near corner from close range, but his effort smacks off the inside of the post and somehow stays out! An inch to the right and France would have won it!
90' +1
A stunning tackle from Koscielny halts a Portugal break, one that nearly proves perilous for Santos' side as they're caught lacking numbers at the back. France fail to act quickly, however, as they let Portugal off the hook with a feeble attempt to counter.
90'
There will be three minutes added on at the end of this match.
88'
Quaresma gets on the end of a teasing delivery over the top, but he overcomplicates matters in the area as Koscielny manages to usher the ball behind for a goal-kick. This match, bereft of attacking quality, is fittingly headed for extra-time, barring a late sting in the tale.
86'
Portugal have evened the playing field over the last 10 minutes or so, enjoying a similar amount of possession, while limiting France's looks in attack. The hosts have been held to the periphery, as it looks increasingly like it will take something special for this deadlock to be broken.
84'
STINGING DRIVE FROM SISSOKO! An invasive effort from the Newcastle midfielder forces Patricio into making another strong save, the keeper diving across to his right to parry the long-range effort!
83'
Tension is rising in the Stade de France as the host's rearguard shows a few vulnerabilities. Any mistake now will be amplified ten-fold. We're still seven minutes from extra-time, but very much in the next-goal-wins territory in Saint-Denis!
81'
LLORIS HAD TO BE SHARP! Nani's cross-cum-shot in from the right forces the France keeper into an acrobatic save as he reaches back to palm the effort off the line! It falls for Quaresma, who opts to try for the spectacular, but Lloris is again on hand to deny the overhead kick.
80'
S. Umtiti gets yellow.
Umtiti becomes the first French player booked on the night.
79'
Éder enters the game and replaces Renato Sanches.
Renato Sanches makes the long walk to the touchline, none too happy with his removal from the match, as Eder comes on to replace him - a positive switch from Fernando Santos.
78'
A. Gignac enters the game and replaces O. Giroud.
Changes for both sides as we approach the final 10 minutes. France introduce Andre-Pierre Gignac, with Giroud the one to give way.
76'
STAT: Portugal are unbeaten in their 13 competitive fixtures under Fernando Santos (W9, D4). Victory over Wales in the quarter-finals was the first of those wins to be decided by more than one goal.
74'
HE'S KEEPING THEM IN IT! Outstanding reflexes on display from Patricio who dives down to his left to deny Giroud from close-range! It wasn't the easiest chance for the striker, but he did so well to take it and though he was in for a better fate because of it - but Patricio continues to prove up for the task!
72'
Coman springs the offside trap as he breaks into the area, but the ball comes into him with plenty of pace as a stray touch forces him wide of goal. He keeps the move alive and tries to cross for Giroud, but again Portugal are wise to it.
70'
Portugal have taken every measure possible to safeguard the 0-0 scoreline, as they continue to focus all their efforts on keeping France out. They're no strangers to the drama of extra-time, and look at peace with the idea of playing another 30 minutes tonight should they be required.
68'
Pressure is starting to mount on the Portugal defence as France enjoy a period of sustained possession in the attacking half. Santos' side are confident in their gameplan, buying in completely to this defensive approach, but they're just starting to show signs of fading - and there's still plenty of time left before the looming possibility of extra-time.
66'
João Moutinho enters the game and replaces Adrien Silva.
SO NEARLY THE BREAKTHROUGH! Griezmann runs into the centre, taking Guerreiro by surprise, to get on the end of a cross in from the left, but his header lifts agonisingly over the bar, skimming the roof of the net on its way behind!
Portugal's second change sees Joao Moutinho enter the fray at the expense of Adrien Silva.
64'
STAT: France have won their last 10 games against Portugal, their best current run against any team after 13 consecutive wins over Luxembourg. Portugal have only scored once in the past four meetings - a Ricardo Quaresma penalty in October 2014.
62'
João Mário gets yellow.
Mario becomes the second player - both from Portugal - booked in this final for a cynical challenge to stop a potential break for France.
60'
Portugal take the reigns as they send their full-backs forward, showing some desire and pace on the front foot for the first time in this second half. Once into the final third, however, it all fizzles out for them, struggling to keep the tempo up. They revert to a patient build and France have no problem diverting their move.
58'
K. Coman enters the game and replaces D. Payet.
Ostensibly plagued by fatigue, Payet's night is done. The man who made such a wonderful name for himself this season wont be the catalyst for France's fairytale ending, as he's replaced by Kingsley Coman for the final 30 minutes.
56'
It takes an awful lot of mental fortitude for a defender to keep their edge despite long lulls in action, so Portugal really need to be getting at this France back-line, who have largely been spectators up to this point. There may just be one or two holes for them to exploit, but there's no way for them to know if they don't get after it.
54'
It's all been fairly speculative from France on the front foot, with Portugal not troubled in dealing with everything being thrown at them. Santos continues to bark instructions from the touchline, though, clearly not too pleased with his side's inability to muster so much as a sliver of attacking impetuous.
52'
STAT: Portugal have conceded only one goal in their last five knockout games at the European Championships, against Poland in this year’s quarter-finals.
50'
All but the end product! Payet dazzles the home supporters with an impressive bit of footwork on the fringes of the final third, as he skips beyond two defenders en route to the top of the penalty area. It's then, however, at the vital moment, as he's about to get a shot off, that Fonte is able to intervene and snuff out the attack - a microcosm of the match as a whole.
48'
Despite being the holders of the game's best chances, the final hasn't unfolded as France - and mainly their supporters - would have hoped. They've largely been held at bay by a rather toothless Portugal side, who are only going to grow in confidence the longer this remains scoreless.
46'
Here we go again! Will there be a winner in the next 45 minutes or are we destined for extra-time?
45' +2
HALF-TIME: PORTUGAL 0-0 FRANCE.
45'
The board goes up to indicate two minutes of stoppage time, as Quaresma and Evra go to ground following a clash of heads. The Portuguese medical team have been the hardest working outfit of these opening 45 minutes!
44'
Griezmann is doing very well to drop deep and act as the link between midfield and attack, but he's being swarmed when he gets the ball. France need to introduce more width into their attack. Evra and Sagna have been sporadic at best in contributing on the overlap.
42'
Back the other way come Portugal, listless in their approach, yet still able to win a corner. It's sent in towards Pepe, but defended admirably by France. It's looking increasingly as though we're going to head into the break scoreless, with the tempo struggling to find any rhythm. It's all a bit static out on the pitch as we approach the interval.
40'
That's the space he wants it in! Lovely interplay on display from France as they make their way up the pitch with a good pace about them. Griezmann picks out Payet atop the area, who quickly switches onto his right, but a strong read from Fonte sees him get in front and deflect the effort away from goal.
38'
A rare foray into attack sees Sanches and Nani link-up in the final third, asking a few questions of this relatively untested France defence. Guerreiro is teed up for a shot from 20 yards, and he has a great left foot, but the required quality eludes him this time around as he sends a tame effort wide of the mark.
36'
STAT: Portugal have played the most games in the history of the European Championships without winning it (34). Cristiano Ronaldo, who is now level with Michel Platini's all-time tournament record of nine goals, has played more matches at the competition than any other player (20).
34'
Cédric Soares gets yellow.
Cedric is issued the first booking of the match as he lunges into the back of Payet and catches the forward with a knee to the midriff.
33'
GREAT GOALKEEPING AGAIN! Well Patricio has really stolen the show in this first half! Sissoko turns brilliantly inside the area after taking a pass from Payet, and fires a bullet of a strike towards the near post, but the Portugal keeper holds firm to beat it away!
31'
Portugal are showing no initiative, focused solely on keeping France out. In fairness, a wrench has been thrown into their plans, and Fernando Santos has seemingly instructed them to stay diligent at the back to get this game scoreless into the interval - where they can collect themselves and regroup.
29'
France are back in possession, trying to inspire again. Sissoko goes on an inquisitive run, catching everyone sleeping as he injects a sudden burst of pace to send himself through into the area. He arrives at the byline, but an important recovery tackle from Fonte forces him to settle for a corner.
27'
The injury has cast a bit of a shadow over the match, and it's sucked a lot of the life out of the crowd. The stop-and-go nature of the last 10 minutes has halted France's momentum, however, which is one of the few positives Portugal can draw from the rather unfavourable situation.
25'
Ricardo Quaresma enters the game and replaces Cristiano Ronaldo.
It's never easy to lose your talisman, but Portugal have a more than capable replacement lined up in the form of Ricardo Quaresma, the man who providing the winning touch for Fernando Santos' side to see them past both Croatia and Poland.
24'
Well, Ronaldo tried to soldier on, but his night is over. He slams his armband down in disgust, before dropping to the ground, again bringing play to a halt. It's unfortunate to say the least, but he's dragging the process out here and it's really plaguing the flow of this first half - preventing the last 10 minutes from developing any sort of rhythm.
22'
STAT: France are unbeaten in their last 18 major tournament games played on home soil, winning 16 and drawing two. Their last defeat dates back to July 1960 in the inaugural European Championships against Czechoslovakia.
20'
Back on is Ronaldo, but there's plenty of doubt surrounding how long he'll be able to continue. It's his knee that's bothering him, following the earlier collision with Payet - but the sun has poked it's head through the dark clouds as the forward trots back onto the pitch, not showing many ill-effects, just minutes after what looked like his teary conclusion to Euro 2016.
18'
Ronaldo makes the teary eyed walk to the touchline as the medical staff make a last-ditch effort to try and patch him up. For now they will carry on with 10 men, opening another window of opportunity for France to break the deadlock.
16'
Absolutely terrible news for Portugal! Regardless of where your allegiances reside, you have to feel for Cristiano Ronaldo here. The forward is on the ground, in tears, as he's unable to carry on here. It's not just a loss for Portugal, but for the match as a whole - you just hate to see this.
14'
It's taking Portugal some time to get settled in, still looking off the pace as France dictate the tempo and dominate possession in their continued search for the elusive opener. Defensively, Portugal have become ensconced in their shell, but it's when they try and pass out from the back that everything seems to go awry.
12'
STAT: This is the fourth meeting between Portugal and France in a major tournament. France have won the previous three, all in semi-finals - Euro 1984, Euro 2000 and the 2006 World Cup.
10'
This one simpler, for Patricio. Giroud does well to elude his marker and get on the end of Payet's corner, but the striker can't get the desired accuracy and weight behind his header, sending it harmlessly into the waiting arms of the keeper.
9'
SPLENDID GOALKEEPING! A slip from Pepe acts as a conduit for a France attack, with Griezmann getting on the end of a cross in from the left, but his header is acrobatically knocked over the bar by Patricio! Wondeful athleticism from the keeper!
7'
Buoyed by the backing of their home support, France have a real spring in their step. They've come out of the gate fired up, and Portugal simply haven't been able to match the same intensity. Payet puts in a fair challenge on Ronaldo, but catches him with the follow-through, bringing play to a halt as the Real Madrid forward is in need of attention from the training staff.
5'
The positive start from the hosts continues through the opening five minutes, causing Portugal problems by the sheer bodies they're getting forward while in possession. A cleverly cushioned header tees Sissoko up for a shot atop the area, the first chance of the night for either side, but he gets the contact all wrong as he skies his half-volley.
3'
France are keen to commit numbers forward early, which has left plenty of space for Portugal to find on the counter, though they've struggled to pick out a pass in the early going. It's almost strange to see Fernando Santos' side in their regular red kits, given how often they've been made to wear their green strip in the knockout stage.
1'
THE 2016 EURO FINAL IS UNDERWAY! Portugal get us started, in their red strip, attacking left to right, with France in blue.
Good evening! Bonsoir! Boa noite! Hello and welcome to live coverage of the 2016 European Championship final from the Stade de France!
We will leave no stone unturned in getting you set for the grand spectacle, but where better to start than with the team news?
PORTUGAL (4-4-2): Patricio; Cedric, Pepe, Fonte, Guerreiro; Mario, William, Sanches, A. Silva; Nani, Ronaldo.
The big news surrounding the Portugal team is the return of Pepe to the XI. Fernando Santos was sweating the fitness of the centre-half in the build-up to the final, but he has recovered from the thigh injury which kept him out of the semi-final to return to the side today at the expense of Bruno Alves. Also back in the team is William Carvalho, fresh off serving his one-game suspension, reclaiming his place in midfield ahead of Danilo.
Cedric Soares and Raphael Guerreiro remain the first-choice wing-backs ahead of Vieirinha and Eliseu, lining up on either side of Pepe and Jose Fonte. Portugal employ a diamond in midfield, with Renato the number 10, William in a holding role and the likes of Joao Mario and Adrien Silva providing support on the flanks for the attacking duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani.
Didier Deschamps, meanwhile, names an unchanged XI to the side which defeated Germany in the semi-final. Laurent Koscielny and Samuel Umtiti resume their partnership at the back, with the experienced Bacary Sagna and Patrice Evra on the flanks. They are protected by the spirited duo of Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi in midfield, with N'Golo Kante again relegated to a spot on the bench.
In front of them is the vaunted - feared - foursome, topped by striker Olivier Giroud who leads the lines. The tournament's leading scorer Antoine Griezmann lines up just in behind him, with Moussa Sissoko and Dimitri Payet providing the support out wide. Deschamps has a number of options to turn to on the bench, as well, should they be needed, with Anthony Martial, Andre-Pierre Gignac and Kingsley Coman all licking their chops at the prospect of being involved in the final.
The referee for tonight’s proceedings is Mark Clattenburg. The Englishman is no stranger to the big occasion, encapsulating his wonderful year as an arbitrator with yet another deserving appointment. In the last two months, Clattenburg has also officiated the FA Cup final as well as the Champions League final, so he will be very much in his element this evening.
You've got the team news, been prepped on the referee, so let's delve right into the match background, shall we? It’s Portugal and France. A nation of 10 million against a nation of nearly 67 million. Two countries separated only by Spain, the winners of the last two European Championships. The trophy will be leaving La Roja territory by the end of tonight, but it won’t have to travel very far.
The motivation – incentive, craving, want – backing both teams is equally unquenchable, but derives from varying historical backdrops. Portugal continue their trenchant search for a first major trophy, while France look to reignite a dynasty that saw them dominate the international level leading up to the turn of the century.
Portugal, starved of success on the international stage, are desperate for redemption. Redemption for 2004. Redemption for their shocking defeat to Greece in the final, on home soil. Redemption for a loss the national team has yet to recover from. Redemption for every painstaking minute of that match. Redemption for a final they had stolen out from under them. Sweet, sweet redemption.
Cristiano Ronaldo was part of that team, a fresh-faced Manchester United teenager at the time. An ostensibly unassailable Portugal side - implacable by nature - entered the final as heavy favourites against Greece, but it was not to be. Tonight they assume the role of underdogs themselves – a background act in the French fairytale – but they’re keen on flipping the script. Fernando Santos’ men have a different ending in mind.
France, an expectant nation left ruminating past success, are poised to enter into another period of dominance. It doesn’t take much to recognise the similarities of this side to the one which won the World Cup in 1998, Euro 2000 and both 2001 and 2003 Confederations Cup. Antoine Griezmann the Thierry Henry. Dimitri Payet, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante, Patrice Evra and Samuel Umtiti the Zinedine Zidane, Patrick Vieira, Didier Deschamps, Lilian Thuram and Marcel Desailly.
For France, this journey has helped bring joy back to the country that was left devastated following November’s terrorist attacks. It’s a remarkable story being written by Les Bleus – an appropriate plot for a Disney movie. A nation left scared and broken less than a year ago, is now ensconced – fixated – in this enchanting journey to the final.
The hosts are the favourites, beyond a reasonable doubt, with Portugal’s participation in the final called into question. Fernando Santos’ side didn’t pick up their first win (in 90 minutes) in the tournament until the semi-finals, against a Wales side depleted by suspensions. It’s left many questioning the deserving nature of Portugal’s inclusion in the event – but people are quick to forget, this is a team who have yet to be beaten in the tournament.
After drawing all three of their group games, Portugal needed extra-time to beat Croatia and penalties to dispose of Poland before finally putting in the convincing performance they had been craving against Wales to book their place in the final. Meanwhile, just once, against Switzerland, have France dropped points in the tournament, with victories over Romania, Albania, Ireland, Iceland and Germany on their resume.
But the road to Saint-Denis is merely an afterthought, because in sport, unlike life, it’s the destination that matters, not the voyage. To ruminate on the passage to the final would be an act in futility. Drawing the vast majority of their matches doesn’t put Portugal at a disadvantage tonight. Winning the bulk of their games doesn’t give France a leg up. The journey merely changes perception, not reality.
What an atmosphere! The pre-match festivities - appropriate for the magnitude of the occasion - are followed by the wonderful rendition of these two national anthems, observed with great acuity in this packed venue at the Stade de France.
The players take their spot on the pitch - on what is a very hot day in Saint-Denis - as we creep ever-closer to kick-off!
Deschamps' side enjoyed a lively start to proceedings, before a Cristiano Ronaldo injury put a damper on the match which struggled to reigninte over the final 20 minutes despite the best efforts of Moussa Sissoko. And so we head into the break scoreless at the Stade de France, a familiar scoreline for Portugal in this tournament. France hold the slight edge, but it's perfectly poised ahead of the second half of this Euro 2016 final!
The frame of the goal comes to Portugal's rescue in the dying minutes, as they overcome an early injury to Cristiano Ronaldo to preserve the draw and force an extra 30 minutes - and perhaps penalties.
Portugal negotiate the two best chances of the first 15 minutes of extra-time, both from set-pieces. Pepe came close with a header - though an offside would have seen it called back anyhow - while Eder forced Lloris into a save late on. France still have the backing of the home supporters behind them, but fatigue is starting to become an issue!
FULL-TIME: PORTUGAL 0-0 FRANCE (1-0 AET).
Portugal stick to what had been working for them all along, as they put in a defensive masterclass to deny the French the trophy on home soil. Fernando Santos' side, who have developed a flair for the dramatics, win their third match of the tournament in extra-time, after playing out to a sixth draw in seven games at Euro 2016!
It was Eder who stepped up for them this time, the unlikeliest of heroes for a Cristiano Ronaldo-less Portugal side. Sheer euphoria for the tiny nation, who are soaking up every second of this, their first international success at a major tournament!
That's all for our live coverage from the Stade de France, thank you for following along. Goodbye!
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