Paris: France and Portugal will go to battle on the football pitch in the month long European Championship 2016 final at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis today.
The game will kick-off at 9 pm local time in France (1900 GMT). English referee Mark Clattenburg will officiate the final.
Having played two finals in the tournament so far, host nation France are set to play their third final in European football championship history. Winners of Euro 1984 and 2000, France are the only team who managed to be in the final twice at home after Euro 1984. In addition, the 1998 FIFA World Cup hosts France lifted the world cup for the first time in their history.
On the other hand, Portugal will play their second final in Euro history. Euro 2004 hosts Portugal lost against underdogs Greece in the final at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.
France has so far won two out of three matches in Group A and drew only once. France first eliminated Republic of Ireland in the last 16 then they knocked out Iceland from the tournament in the quarter-finals and lastly eliminated European football giants Germany in the semi-final.
Meanwhile, Portugal were among the four best-third placed teams in the groups, which drew in all of their three matches in Group F. They eliminated Croatia in round 16, then they knocked Poland out in the quarter final phase and lastly they eliminated Wales in the semis.
Notable, Portugal has been unable to win any match out of their last 10 games against France. The teams have played 24 matches, including friendlies. France has 18 wins in total whereas Portugal has managed to win five times. Both teams drew once.
Portugal last beat France in 1975. France was victorious against Portugal in the Euro 2000 and 2006 FIFA World Cup semis.
