Didier Deschamps believes his France side missed a fabulous opportunity to achieve success.

Les Bleus lost 1-0 to Portugal in the final of Euro2016 in Paris on Sunday night in what can only be described as the one that got away for the French.

Deschamps' side certainly had the better of the scoring chances throughout the contest but were unable to breach Rui Patricio's goal as they were humbled on home soil by Fernando Santos' Portugal who won courtesy of a brilliant 109th-minute winner from bit-part striker Eder.

"We've missed a unique opportunity to win a Euros in our own country. There are no words. The disappointment is there, and it's huge, and it will take time to digest it," said Deschamps.

"But we won together, we suffer together and, today, we lost together. We so wanted to rouse the French people, and it would have been magnificent to bring the trophy home to them. But, unfortunately, that isn't going to be the case.

"Even if we were a little bit tired as well, that's not an excuse. We had chances to score, and the last one fell to 'Dédé' Gignac. It came down to tiny details, it was a close match.

"We had chances, as did the Portuguese, but unfortunately they scored. It's a great disappointment for it to end now, with this final.

"We must not throw everything that we've done away, but we threw away a great chance to be European Champions - not the only one, but a great one."