THE BOSS: Deschamps is calm ahead of the final

And ahead of his biggest game as a manager, the France coach has told his players to stay calm if they want to be at their best against Portgual.

He said: “It’s an exceptional moment because there’s a title at stake but you must not think too much about it.

"What you need to do is approach it as relaxed as possible while being at the same time totally focused on the match.

"At the highest level of sport nothing is more beautiful than winning and victory is the only thing that counts in the end.

"You have to do everything it takes to win and that is the state of mind we’re in.”

Deschamps also captained Olympique By Marseille to their Champions League victory in 1993 and later coached Monaco to the Champions League Final in 2004.

Asked if today’s match against Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and his team-mates would be the most important game in his career, he said: “When I accepted this job, it was not just to take part, it was to live moments like this one.

"The best place is on the pitch. There is a frustration at not being on it with my boots on but I can’t do that anymore.”

If France do win this evening, boss Deschamps will join Roger Lemerre and Michel Higaldo as Euro-winning French bosses.