4 key questions heading into the Euro 2016 final

Paris - Here are four key factors that could decide the Euro 2016 final on Sunday between Portugal and France.

How can France contain Cristiano Ronaldo?

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in four European Championship finals and despite failing to fire on all four cylinders, the Real Madrid star is an omnipresent danger.

France will have to limit the Portuguese star as much as possible.

"He's one of the best in the world, if not the best," said France right-back Bacary Sagna. "As a defender you have to give him as little space as possible."

The nature of Portugal's team and its fairly passive attacking game means Ronaldo has been less effective than he would normally be with Real. He has had less opportunity to counter-attack, less service from attacking midfield players and so had fewer opportunities to score.

But Ronaldo is a constant threat around the area and at set-pieces. He scored a brilliant backheel against Hungary, fired Portugal in front with a superb header against Wales and a scuffed shot from the Real marksman was enough for Nani to get his leg to the ball and double Portugal's lead.

Giving Ronaldo a sniff of goal early in the game could change the entire landscape for France. Asked about Ronaldo, France coach Didier Deschamps warned: "In football, the major challenge is fighting against speed and his game in the air. Limiting his influence will be key for us."

Which tactical formation will France deploy?

Deschamps has yet to find a settled starting line-up, having experimented in midfield and attack since the start of the tournament.

With the threat of Ronaldo and a midfield diamond designed to offer the Real Madrid man scoring opportunities, a committed defensive performance will be required from all French players.

After a fairly solid performance against Germany in Marseille, Deschamps is expected to stick with the 4-2-3-1 he used in the semi-final.

Antoine Griezmann was part of a three-man attacking midfield against the Germans, sitting just behind main striker Olivier Giroud. The little Atletico Madrid striker was magical to watch.

Deschamps is unlikely to change tack, though Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi - who sit just in front of a four-man defence - will have to track back to help break down Portuguese offensives, in addition to their own offensive duties.

Juventus midfielder Pogba has been given more freedom to operate up front when Deschamps has deployed Moussa Sissoko in his three-man attacking midfield. Sissoko was solid throughout against Germany.

Most of the starting lineup against Germany should get the nod on Sunday, although Deschamps is not averse to tweaking his side at half-time if necessary.

Can Portugal shake off the weight of history?

Portugal boasts some of the world's top footballers, but has yet to win a major trophy and is desperate to banish memories of a stunning defeat to Greece on home soil in 2004.

Ronaldo was a baby-faced 19-year-old who cried post-match tears as Portugal was stunned 1-0 at the Estadio da Luz 12 years ago.

He has since been voted the world player of the year three times and gone on to huge success with Real Madrid. But Portugal remains a country without a title, and the bitter memories of 2004 are still felt.

Ricardo Carvalho, who with Ronaldo is one of two survivors from 2004, said: "Now the moment has come to remember and learn from the mistakes we made.

"Maybe we were over-confident because we were playing at home, we had knocked out teams like Spain and Holland and our opponents were Greece. Now we have the opportunity to win a competition that we lost in painful fashion."

Portugal fans and former players believe it is time to end that quest, but history says France has the edge. France has won its last 10 meetings with the Portuguese since going down 2-0 in a friendly in 1975. Their head-to-head record includes victories in all three clashes at major competitions.

France beat Portugal twice in friendlies in the past year in Lisbon and Paris, but midfielder Joao Mario said: "Probabilities don't win matches. 100 percent of Portuguese also believe Portugal can win and that is what we are going to focus on."

The expectations of a nation weighing heavily on France?

A home win for Les Bleus would help soothe the pain and frustration of a traumatic year for the country, after the November 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.

A Stade de France final will evoke memories of the attacks in and around the French capital, including outside the national stadium, last year.

But France's players insist they are focused on the job at hand. "We were reassured by President (Francois) Hollande before the tournament when he explained all the security measures that would be put in place," said Griezmann.

"It's up to us to focus on winning games and we want to win this final to make the French people happy."

France is also looking to emulate the Les Bleus side that secured the Euro '84 and World Cup 1998 titles on home soil, but goalkeeper Hugo Lloris played down suggestions of feeling extra pressure.

"Playing the Euros on home soil has been wonderful. Now we have one more step to take ... but we're preparing well for battle against a formidable opponent."