National flags hung from apartment blocks and homes in cities across France and Portugal as football fever mounted. Deschamps, who captained the French side that won the 1998 World Cup and the Euro title in 2000, said he could feel the adrenaline pumping. Football tensions mounted and patriotic hopes rose Sunday ahead of the Euro 2016 final between hosts France and Portugal that will unleash a clash between one of the world's greatest ever players Cristiano Ronaldo and would-be pretender Antoine Griezmann. The buildup to Euro 2016 was clouded by fears that the tournament would be targeted by jihadists after 130 people were killed in terror attacks on Paris in November. "It's an exceptional moment, a privilege, a unique chance because there is a title at the end," Deschamps said of the final.

Source: Standard Digital July 10, 2016 09:33 UTC