Thelongball

The Beckenbauer column: Portugal will be a tough nut to crack for a Griezmann-inspired France

Portugal is justly in the final - and this will be anything but a stroll for France. Especially since the Portuguese have a day longer to recuperate.

Euro 2016: France rode luck to win on a night when Germany were tactically superior

France rode their luck and overcame their biggest challenge. Now, in Sunday’s grand finale, only Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal side, who are no strangers to grinding out results themselves, stand in the way of French glory.

Cristiano Ronaldo carries Portugal to Euro 2016 finals, reiterating why he is among the best

With a goal and an assist to his name, Ronaldo stepped up when it really mattered to lead his team to the Euro 2016 finals.

Cristiano Ronaldo won Portugal the match, but Wales were the better team through Euro 2016

Portugal didn’t outplay or outclass Wales, but they found a way to score when the Welsh did not.

Euro 2016: Attacking midfielders come to the fore as Europe's lack of world-class strikers shows

Euro 2016: Scoring goals will never go out of fashion. But the kind of player who scores them will always be susceptible to the whims of time and ideas.

Organised, spirited, impassioned: Wales' incredible journey to Euro 2016 semi-finals

The seeds of the forest of Welsh success that has grown in France over the last few weeks were sewn not by Galactico Gareth Bale or his manager Chris Coleman, but by former manager John Toshack.

The Matthaeus column: Advantage France as Germany missing key players for Euro 2016 semi-final

Euro 2016: Iceland may have lost, but their performance signals a new beginning in football

Iceland has given football a fresh, new idiom and it will not be long before their football story becomes a topic of research papers in sociology.

Euro 2016: Italy looked like a well-drilled club side and must take pride in defeat

If there's a compliment to be paid to Conte, it is that watching Italy has felt like watching a well-drilled club side at its tactical zenith.

Euro 2016: Belgium hurt by depleted defence but their golden generation still has a chance

This is Belgium's golden generation and in two years time at the next World Cup, their oozing talent will still be mostly young and in its prime.