For host France, Sunday’s European Championship final has been a decade in the making.
Soccer’s most stunning downfall, after all, transpired almost exactly 10 years ago, when French legend Zinedine Zidane’s infamous head-butt precipitated Les Bleus’ loss to Italy in the 2006 World Cup final. France went winless two years later at the 2008 Euros, then experienced a mutinous exit from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
A win over Portugal at the Stade de France (3 p.m. ET, ESPN) would relegate those memories to the history books. France has been gearing its international development and preparation toward this tournament for years, and the effort is paying off thanks to a youthful contingent of attacking talent.