THE DUP vetoed a Sinn Féin proposal for Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness to watch Ireland’s two soccer teams at last year’s European Championships in France, the former deputy first minister has said.

It was a major year for both football teams with relative success at Euro 2016 and the beginning of another World Cup qualifying campaign.

TWO billion people watched the 2016 European Championship live on television, and the total live audience for the 51-match tournament was almost five billion, Uefa has revealed.

THE Northern Ireland football team has been honoured at Stormont for its achievements during the European Championships.

NON-POSSESSION game: talk about damning with a quaint phrase.

A NORTHERN Ireland football fan who suffered horrific injuries in a three-storey fall in France has told how he hopes to be "kicking a ball around soon".

WILL Grigg has been named among the best 25 footballers in Europe

MORE than 4,100 people were arrested in co-ordinated raids across 11 different countries during Euro 2016 in one of the largest global police operations against illegal gambling in Asia.

FOR lots of reasons it was a crying shame to see Cristiano Ronaldo limp out of last Sunday’s Euro 2016 final with a knee injury before half-time.

THE REPUBLIC of Ireland are up two places to 31st in the latest FIFA World Rankings, after reaching the last 16 of Euro 2016 before their defeat to hosts France.

RELIVE the highs and lows of Euro 2016 with this run-down of the tournament in numbers.

Those who like to see the best teams win major international soccer tournaments had been spoilt recently, largely by Spain but also by Germany.

PORTUGAL'S last minute victory in the Euro 2016 final prompted hundreds of Portuguese ex-pats to celebrate in their adopted Co Tyrone home.

EDER barely made an imprint during his ill-fated spell at Swansea, but the striker has left an indelible mark on Portuguese football after scoring the goal that clinched Euro 2016.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s tears turned into unbounded joy as Portugal secured their first ever trophy, with Eder’s stunning extra-time strike seeing off Euro 2016 hosts France.

WILL it be France or Portugal will be celebrating Euro 2016 glory at the Stade de France tonight?

DIDIER Deschamps is looking to lead France to silverware once again, although the head coach knows what a tough ask lies in wait in the Euro 2016 final against a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Portugal.

EURO 2016 has transcended football and united France during difficult times, making captain Hugo Lloris all the more determined to give his compatriots a victory to savour.

HOST nation France may be the favourites to beat Portugal in Sunday's Euro 2016 final but Joao Mario insists the underdogs can overcome past results and upset the odds.

FRANCE midfielder Blaise Matuidi says his squad have been afforded tantalising glimpses of what it will mean to the host nation if they beat Portugal tomorrow to be crowned European champions in Paris.