France coach Didier Deschamps said he and his players have already made history just by securing a place in the Euro 2016 final with a 2-0 win over Germany in Marseille.
Two goals from Antoine Griezmann saw off Joachim Low's side and set France up for a showdown against Portugal.
The win was France's first over Germany in a major tournament since 1958, following eliminations in the World Cup knockout stages in 1982, 1986 and 2014.
If Les Bleus claim the trophy in Paris, they would equal Germany and Spain with their third European Championship triumph, but Deschamps said history has already been written.
"We have already," he said about securing his side's place in history. "It was a long time since we'd beaten Germany but that didn't mean anything today. We're into the final and there's a trophy up for grabs.
"I'm delighted for the players, it was a very tough game against a team who made us suffer but we suffered together.
"When you see the passion and the fervour in the stands around the ground... This team has everything it takes to be loved. It's a great emotion -- we had to suffer but never gave up and that's great for me.
"This is a great story -- the players wrote history by knocking out Germany. We don't have the power to solve people's problems but we can generate emotions so they forget their worries. We generate passion and fervour, we can see that."
Deschamps was captain of the France team that won the 1998 World Cup as hosts, and he said winning the Euro trophy would be a moment his players would not forget.
"I had my share [of finals] as a player," he said. "I'm very proud as a coach and proud of my players -- it's not that I'm not happy personally but it's mainly for the players. When I wore this shirt it was the proudest moment of my career.
"There should be nothing above the French shirt for the players; perhaps that's not always been the case but they're now very aware of what they can give to people when they're wearing this shirt for."
Deschamps said goalkeeper Hugo Lloris put in a "crucial" performance, but he reserved special praise for Griezmann, who fired fired France in front from the penalty spot in the closing seconds of a first half in which they had been under pressure.
Griezmann wrapped up a memorable night for the tournament hosts when he steered the ball home after Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had flapped at a cross from Paul Pogba.
"Antoine is a great player and he proved that again tonight in everything he did," Deschamps said. "He works very hard and, along with Olivier Giroud, from a defensive perspective he made sure we were a very compact unit.
"He's a very important player, as he has been for Atletico all season. At the Euro, he's scored goals, set up teammates and got others around him playing well."
France reached the final after seeing off Republic of Ireland and Iceland in the first two games of the knockout stage, but Deschamps said every game so far has been difficult.
"We haven't had easy games. Germany were the best side [we've played]; we did what we needed to today," the coach said.
"Germany have a lot of technical ability, they move the ball very well and even though they were without a few players they had a lot of experience.
"We have a few players with a few caps but they gave everything and that's great for me as a coach."
France now turn their attention to Portugal, and though he stopped short of proclaiming his side as favourites, Deschamps did acknowledge France enter the final with plenty of momentum.
"We have our chances and so do Portugal," he said. "As host nation, and because we've knocked out Germany, that doesn't give us extra powers. We believe in ourselves; so do Portugal."