For Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, the Euro 2016 final on Sunday offers a golden opportunity to end a miserable record in meetings with France.
As well as having home advantage and history on their side from wins in their last two major tournament finals on home soil, Les Bleus can claim to be Portugal's bete noire.
France have won their last 10 meetings with the Portuguese since going down 2-0 in a friendly back in 1975, and their head-to-head record includes victories in all three clashes at major competitions.
The first of those came at the 1984 European Championship in France, when the hosts triumphed 3-2 after extra time in a dramatic semi-final in Marseille.
Penalties beckoned at the Stade Velodrome when Michel Platini appeared to score a 119th-minute winner to send France through to a final against Spain where they lifted the Henri Delaunay trophy for the first time.
"So much sadness, frustration and disappointment. Even today it is very painful to talk about that match," said Jaime Pacheco, who played for Portugal that night, in a recent interview with French newspaper Le Parisien.
"But, to be fair, France were better than us. They deserved to win the match and the Euro."
There was more agony for the Selecao in the Euro 2000 semi-finals, when a great side featuring Luis Figo and Rui Costa led in Brussels before eventually losing 2-1.
Nuno Gomes put Portugal in front but Thierry Henry equalised for the world champions and Zinedine Zidane scored a golden goal winner from the penalty spot three minutes from the end of extra time.
Again France went on to win the continental crown while Portugal were left to rue the officials' decision to penalise Abel Xavier for a handball in the box as a shoot-out again loomed.
"I tried to calm the players, it was the first time an assistant referee had given a penalty," the Portugal coach that night, Humberto Coelho, told L'Equipe of the mood in the dressing room after the game.
"It was difficult because it was the end. And yet we were 'programmed' to win. I am sure that if we had reached the final we would have won it."
Ronaldo tears
More heartache followed in 2006, when the team that had stumbled at the final hurdle of Euro 2004 on home soil lost in the last four of the World Cup.
Another Zidane penalty in the first half in Munich took the French through to a final they eventually lost in a shoot-out against Italy.
Ronaldo trudged off the field in tears that night. He has declared his wish to be crying tears of joy after Sunday's final at the Stade de France.
And on Portugal's side is the fact that two other long-running hexes have been broken at the Euros.
Germany beat Italy for the first time in nine attempts at major tournaments, albeit on penalties in the quarter-finals. France then beat the Germans in the semi-finals after high profile defeats in their last three competitive encounters.
"They are playing at home and are entitled to believe they can win. It had been a long time since they had beaten Germany and they did it," admitted Portugal midfielder Joao Mario on Friday.
"We are aware of our past defeats against France, but that can give us extra strength and motivation."
France also beat Portugal in a friendly in Lisbon as recently as last September and won 2-1 with goals from Karim Benzema and Paul Pogba in a friendly at the Stade de France in October 2014.
But Joao Mario added: "Probability doesn't win matches. The French can believe in this, but 100 percent of Portuguese also believe Portugal can win and that is what we are going to focus on."
AFP
Sat Jul 09 2016
![Euro 2016: Portugal seek revenge for past agony against France Euro 2016: Portugal seek revenge for past agony against France](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-07/61467853699_Portugal.jpg)
For Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, the Euro 2016 final on Sunday offers a golden opportunity to end a miserable record in meetings with France. -Filepix
Ahli Parlimen wajib jalani pemeriksaan kesihatan lagi tahun ini
Semua Ahli Parlimen sekali lagi diwajibkan jalani pemeriksaan kesihatan bagi tahun ini dan jika gagal berbuat demikian nama akan dipaparkan dalam laman web Parlimen, kata Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
#SisiTVParlimen
#SisiTVParlimen
![La Liga: Kylian Mbappe kini kepunyaan Real Madrid La Liga: Kylian Mbappe kini kepunyaan Real Madrid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721176547_Mbappe.jpg)
La Liga: Kylian Mbappe kini kepunyaan Real Madrid
Pemain berusia 26 tahun itu akan menyarung jersi nombor 9 dan mengakui terpaksa menolak beberapa tawaran daripada beberapa kelab besar.
AWANI Ringkas: Tumpuan sidang Dewan Rakyat hari ini
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Niaga AWANI: [Data & Statistik] Prestasi Bursa Malaysia setakat 17 Julai 2024
Indeks petunjuk pasaran dibuka tinggi naik 1.91 mata kepada 1,631.73 dan bergerak antara paras 1,624.39 dan 1,633.97 sepanjang hari dagangan. Jumlah dagangan menyusut kepada 4.66 bilion unit bernilai RM3.52 bilion daripada 5.36 bilion unit bernilai RM3.95 bilion pada Isnin.
Niaga AWANI: [Data & Statistik] Prestasi ringgit setakat 17 Julai 2024
Ketua Ekonomi Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid berkata tumpuan pasaran telah beralih ke arah pilihan raya presiden AS menjelang November nanti, yang menunjukkan kebimbangan terhadap Donald Trump berikutan dasar ekonominya yang akan memihak kepada pemotongan cukai dan pengenaan tarif terhadap China.
![Olimpik 2024: Mampukah Pearly-Thinaah cipta 'kemanisan' di Paris? Olimpik 2024: Mampukah Pearly-Thinaah cipta 'kemanisan' di Paris?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/41704813566_PearlyTandanThina.jpg)
Olimpik 2024: Mampukah Pearly-Thinaah cipta 'kemanisan' di Paris?
Penganalisis berpendapat sukar buat Pearly-Thinaah menjayakan misi emas pertama Malaysia pada penampilan sulung mereka.
Niaga AWANI: [Hutang kerajaan persekutuan meningkat] Cabaran antara jimat atau langkah rangsangan
Perdana Menteri pada Selasa umum hutang kerajaan persekutuan meningkat kepada RM1.22 trilion berbanding RM1.17 trilion. Apakah cabaran mengurus hutang ini untuk memasihkan ia kekal di bawah had statutori? Adakah dasar fikal kita masih utuh?
![Pemuda berat 183kg kini tinggal 99kg Pemuda berat 183kg kini tinggal 99kg](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721175184_Pemudaberatkgk.jpg)
Pemuda berat 183kg kini tinggal 99kg
Dia melalui episod kehidupan yang panjang untuk mendapatkan berat terkini.
![Minat risiko ketara, ringgit dibuka mengukuh berbanding dolar AS Minat risiko ketara, ringgit dibuka mengukuh berbanding dolar AS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/81709006000_RINGGIT.jpg)
Minat risiko ketara, ringgit dibuka mengukuh berbanding dolar AS
Ringgit mengukuh sedikit berbanding dolar AS pada sesi awal urus niaga Rabu ketika minat terhadap risiko kembali ketara.
Jiwa SME: Sabun Pro One Active sasar perluas pasaran global
Sabun Pro One Active tidak menggunakan sebarang lemak haiwan dalam pembuatannya selain ia mesra pengguna dan alam lantaran ia bercirikan biochemical.
![Saya tidak boleh bayangkan Ronaldo beraksi di Piala Dunia 2026 - Alex Ferguson Saya tidak boleh bayangkan Ronaldo beraksi di Piala Dunia 2026 - Alex Ferguson](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720835300_CristianoRonaldo.jpg)
"Saya tidak boleh bayangkan Ronaldo beraksi di Piala Dunia 2026" - Alex Ferguson
Ferguson percaya Ronaldo sudah memiliki segalanya sepanjang karier bola sepaknya.
![Gerrard ajak Lionel Messi sertai Cristiano Ronaldo ke Arab Saudi Gerrard ajak Lionel Messi sertai Cristiano Ronaldo ke Arab Saudi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720487519_LionelMessi.jpg)
Gerrard ajak Lionel Messi sertai Cristiano Ronaldo ke Arab Saudi
Gerrard berkata 'mimpi jadi kenyataan' bagi Lionel Messi untuk mengikuti jejak langkah Cristiano Ronaldo ke Liga Pro Saudi.
![EURO 2024: Tiada langsung keraian 'Siuuu' daripada Ronaldo EURO 2024: Tiada langsung keraian 'Siuuu' daripada Ronaldo](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720219467_tbEuro.jpg)
EURO 2024: Tiada langsung keraian 'Siuuu' daripada Ronaldo
Desas-desus mengatakan bahawa ini adalah penampilan terakhirnya mewakili skuad kebangsaan dalam EURO berkemungkinan menjadi kenyataan.
![EURO 2024: Cristiano Ronaldo akan bangkit tebus kekecewaan - Brown EURO 2024: Cristiano Ronaldo akan bangkit tebus kekecewaan - Brown](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720065939_CristianoRonaldo.jpg)
EURO 2024: Cristiano Ronaldo akan bangkit tebus kekecewaan - Brown
Ronaldo akan bangkit untuk menebus kekecewaannya dan mempamerkan perstasi terbaik berikutan mentaliti elit yang dimilikinya, demikian kata bekas rakan sepasukannya di Manchester United, Wes Brown.
![EURO 2024: Kadar degupan jantung bukti Ronaldo mampu kawal emosi pada saat genting EURO 2024: Kadar degupan jantung bukti Ronaldo mampu kawal emosi pada saat genting](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720065717_TBRONALDO.jpg)
EURO 2024: Kadar degupan jantung bukti Ronaldo mampu kawal emosi pada saat genting
KADAR denyutan jantung Cristiano Ronaldo telah direkodkan ketika Portugal melakar kemenangan ke atas Slovenia -- dan keputusannya sangat menarik.
![EURO 2024: Jude Bellingham akui gol cantik Cristiano Ronaldo jadi inspirasi EURO 2024: Jude Bellingham akui gol cantik Cristiano Ronaldo jadi inspirasi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71719783357_JudeBellingham.jpg)
EURO 2024: Jude Bellingham akui gol cantik Cristiano Ronaldo jadi inspirasi
Bellingham mengakui ketika dia berada di udara, dia membandingkan dirinya dengan bekas penyerang Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo.
![EURO 2024 penampilan terakhir Cristiano Ronaldo di pentas Eropah EURO 2024 penampilan terakhir Cristiano Ronaldo di pentas Eropah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61719968350_CristianoRonaldo.jpg)
EURO 2024 penampilan terakhir Cristiano Ronaldo di pentas Eropah
Ronaldo beraksi dalam kejohanan utamanya yang ke-11 dan ini kali pertama dia gagal menjaringkan sebarang gol di peringkat kumpulan.
![EURO 2024: Martinez tabik Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Costa pacu Portugal EURO 2024: Martinez tabik Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Costa pacu Portugal](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51719881666_EURO.jpg)
EURO 2024: Martinez tabik Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Costa pacu Portugal
Martinez beri penghormatan kepada Cristiano Ronaldo dan Diogo Costa, selepas Portugal berjaya mara ke suku akhir EURO 2024.
![EURO 2024: Portugal singkir Slovenia dengan kemenangan penuh drama EURO 2024: Portugal singkir Slovenia dengan kemenangan penuh drama](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41719875962_CristianoRonaldo.jpg)
EURO 2024: Portugal singkir Slovenia dengan kemenangan penuh drama
Kemenangan 3-0 melalui penentuan sepakan penalti membawa Portugal melangkah ke peringkat suku akhir saingan EURO 2024.
![EURO 2024: Pepe yakin Cristiano Ronaldo kembali temui sentuhan berbisa EURO 2024: Pepe yakin Cristiano Ronaldo kembali temui sentuhan berbisa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81719634285_EURO.jpg)
EURO 2024: Pepe yakin Cristiano Ronaldo kembali temui sentuhan berbisa
Prestasi Cristiano Ronaldo akan kembali ke asal tidak lama lagi selepas kempen mengecewakannya bersama Portugal dalam EURO 2024 setakat ini.