Although they were beaten in the final by Portugal at Stade de France last Sunday, France’s 2016 UEFA European Championship campaign should be considered a success.
Pre-tournament, Didier Deschamps’ men were looking to better their quarter-final appearance at the World Cup in Brazil two years ago and they did that. Not only did Les Bleus go one step further than the last eight, they went two better by reaching the final.
On paper and based on the form shown by both sides in France this summer, the Henri Delaunay trophy appeared the hosts’ to lose.
However, things were not as straightforward as they seemed in the final, and Portugal surprised the French in Saint-Denis to lift their first-ever major international trophy.