
It was a final that may not live long in the memory for the quality of football on display.

But the culmination of Euro 2016 may well be remembered for an unusual pitch invasion during the game between hosts France and Portugal when moths swarmed the Stade de France stadium in Paris.

Players and supporters were forced to duck for cover as thousands of moths swarmed across the pitch prior to kick-off.

A despondent Cristiano Ronaldo goes down with his match-ending injury, only for a moth to land on his face. The invasion of the insects at the Stade de France in Paris was a result of staff leaving floodlights on overnight

English referee Mark Clattenburg (right) speaks to former official Pierluigi Collina as the swarm of moths invades the pitch

The swarm was attracted to the Stade de France after ground staff left the floodlights on overnight. Pictured are moths on the goalposts

Portugal defender Pepe swats away a moth ahead of the final against France on Sunday. His side went on to win the game 1-0

English referee Mark Clattenburg could be seen swatting the bugs away while he carried out his normal pre-match inspection of the playing surface.

And during the game, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo had a moth land on his face as cameras focused on him suffering a game-ending knee injury.

Before the tie, the players from both sides had to endure a difficult warm-up on the pitch as the moths took over the playing surface during the run up to the match.

The emergence of the swarm appears to be part of an embarrassing blunder by the ground staff at the stadium who, according to BBC presenter Gary Lineker, left the floodlights on during Sunday night which attracted the insects during humid conditions.

'We're not the only ones who want a particular flutter on this game as there's been a moth infestation at the Stade de France,' the former England striker joked during the BBC's coverage of the final on Sunday night.

France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is plagued by one of the moths as he watches the play in the final against Portugal

France manager Didier Deschamps attempts to rid himself of insects during the pre-match build up

The invasion of insects will have come as an unwanted distraction to both teams ahead of the crucial match

Collina shows his disgust as moths swarm across the pitch at the Stade de France prior to kick-off

Clattenburg and his fellow match officials are surrounded by the moths during the pre-match pitch inspection

'They're all over the place, apparently they left the lights on last night and it's not been well received. There's thousands of the things, they're currently trying to do something about it.

'They need footballs and mothballs this evening it seems. Hopefully they clear them before they get round to kicking off.'

Fans used Twitter to express their surprise and delight at the invasion, with some fans suggesting Iceland's iconic post-match celebration was in fact just an attempt to swat the moths.

One, Michelle Sammett, said: 'The first are already leaving the stadium disappointed.'

Another fan, Tom Suttcliffe, said: 'If the moths got a bit organised they could win this. But they're all over the place.' There were also suggestions a vacuum cleaner was used to remove some of the creatures from each side's technical area.

If the moths got a bit organised they could win this. But they're all over the place. — Tom Sutcliffe (@tds153) July 10, 2016

When moths attack. A vacuum cleaner in each technical area to gather up the plague of moths pic.twitter.com/UmwLyiW67i — Graham Dunbar (@gdunbarap) July 10, 2016

Moths were everywhere before, during and after the game with some pictured by a tournament ball, left, and others on a cone (right)

A close-up of one of the moths, which has come to rest on a piece of broadcast equipment at the Stade de France

The pre-match invasion will be an unwanted distraction to both sides ahead of the most important game of the tournament.

Hosts France were beaten in the final by Portugal with Swansea flop Eder scoring in extra time to hand the underdogs a surprising victory in Paris.

Portugal's historic win was a fitting end to Euro 2016 - a cagey tournament punctuated by moments of quality.

This was not a classic competition by any stretch of the imagination, thanks in no small part to new, 24-team format.

Only eight teams were eliminated at the end of the group stage and it appeared little coincidence that less-fancied nations favoured a more cautious approach, in the knowledge that finishing third gave them a decent chance of making it through to the knock-out stages.

It was no surprise either to see European football's governing body UEFA defending the format amid criticism from some high-profile figures, having enjoyed record revenues from the largest European Championship ever.

Three members of the French coaching team try to keep the insects at bay in the run up to the match

An unwanted intruder distracts Cristiano Ronaldo as the Portugal captain prepares for the start of the game

Ronaldo was clearly not a fan of the moths as he tried to prepare for the big match and was later pictured with one on his face

A member of staff attempts to clear the advertising boards of the unwanted moths before kick-off

The moths also made life difficult for the various broadcasting teams as captured the huge sporting event live