Portugal welcomes Pepe, William Carvalho back into lineup for final

Portugal manager Fernando Santos has named Pepe and William Carvalho in his starting XI for the Euro 2016 final against France, due to their availability following respective injury and suspension issues.

After putting in uncompromising and solid performances at the back throughout the tournament, Pepe was forced to miss the semi-final against Wales with a troublesome thigh problem. He's been drafted back into the lineup at the first opportunity at the expense of Bruno Alves, who played the full 90 minutes in the 2-0 defeat of the Red Dragons.

Carvalho wins his spot in deep midfield back off Danilo Pereira, who deputised well in the final-four bout. The Sporting CP battering ram had to sit out the Wales test since he picked up two yellow cards over four games.

Portugal is chasing its first major tournament triumph at the Stade de France on Sunday. But in France it has a formidable opponent, and one that has won honours on home soil before, at Euro 1984 and the 1998 World Cup.