European Championships - Final at Stade De France -Portugal vs France
(July 10th)
Didier Deschamps is looking to lead France to silverware once again, although the head coach knows what a tough ask lies in wait in the Euro 2016 final against a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Portugal.
Sunday's encounter at the Stade de France promises to be a fascinating clash as Les Bleus look to end a 16-year wait to become continental champions.
Deschamps was key in France's last success after skippering his country to Euro 2000, having done the same as they won the World Cup on home soil two years earlier.
Now the 47-year-old is looking to lead France to another memorable triumph, with the 103-cap former midfielder described by captain Hugo Lloris as "the architect" of the current crop's run to the final.
"It's the players' attributes, first and foremost and also the mindset," Deschamps said when told of the goalkeeper's comments.
"But this is the work I do with my staff on a daily basis, every time we meet up with the team.
"We've had two years of friendly matches, we didn't win every fixture but we've tried to retain this mindset.
"The players are obviously competitors, it is fabulous to play a European Championship and they're doing so in France.
"They've done everything we've asked of them even though it hasn't been simple, it has even been tough at times.
"But they never give up and that's something clearly I'm very fond of. I don't know, I must have been born like that.
"When it's just sport for fun, it's about enjoying yourself, but at top-level sport winning is what matters. There's nothing better than winning.
"You have to accept things when that's not the case, but before accepting that you have to do everything to try and win matches.
"Football is by no means an exact science, it comes down to very small margins, but once you've done everything, once you've given everything, people have no regrets and we're really driven forwards by this mindset on a daily basis."
Deschamps says finals like these are a "privileged time, a unique opportunity", admitting he would rather be on the field than the bench.
France are the bookmakers' favourites for the final but few would argue that the best player taking to the turf will be Portugal forward Ronaldo.
Buoyed by a match-winning display in the semi-final against Wales, the 31-year-old is relishing the chance to spearhead a first ever Portuguese major tournament win.
"If there is an anti-Ronaldo plan, no one has yet found the recipe," Deschamps said. "He's a top player, he's got great athletic attributes in the air.
"It's not just that he can get up high, but he can hang there as well. I think his abdominal muscles, his six pack is there for a reason.
"But there are two things that are very tough to combat in football: pace and the aerial threat.
"It would be great to neutralise him, of course, but we need to be wary and limit his influence. That will be important to do."
For his part, Ronaldo insists Portugal are ready to spoil France's party.
The 31-year-old was stung by Greece's smash-and-grab European Championships raid in the 2004 final when Portugal were hosts, and has little intention of losing a second major final.
"They are, in my opinion, favourites because they are playing at home and that's a big advantage," Ronaldo told EURO2016.com.
"The whole country is going to support them, but it's a final and anything can happen.
"We're going to be prepared and we're going to be difficult to beat.
"Since the tournament started nobody has beaten us, and I hope France aren't going to beat us either."
Greece picked hosts Portugal's pocket 1-0 courtesy of organised, defensive football in the European competition's 2004 finale.
Ronaldo will be more than happy for the stubborn Portuguese to do exactly the same to the flair-filled French some 12 years on.
The former Manchester United forward can also strike a blow in his constant one-upmanship battle with great rival Lionel Messi this weekend too.
Barcelona linchpin Messi retired from international football in huge frustration after Argentina's defeat to Chile in the Copa America final on June 27.
At just 29 Messi has given up the ghost on that elusive hunt for a major international title, having suffered another disappointment following Argentina's 1-0 loss to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final.
Ronaldo could be forgiven for viewing pipping Messi to such an international honour as the potential icing on Sunday's seriously sweet cake.
"It's something that I always dreamed of," said Ronaldo of lifting a major trophy with Portugal.
"It would be a huge achievement if I could win something with Portugal.
"My fingers are crossed because I believe, my colleagues believe, all of Portugal believes and the Portuguese community in France believe too.
"It's unique, a feeling of joy, because being in a final is something I wanted to achieve again.
"Now I will have the fortune, if everything goes well, to be playing on Sunday in a second final for Portugal.
"In a final anything can happen. We know we will face a great opponent, a great national team, but it's a final and anything is possible.
"It's going to be a tough game for both of us."