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Pepe returns to full Portugal training with Cristiano Ronaldo happy welcome defender back into fold ahead of Euro 2016 final showdown against France

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Pepe returns to full Portugal training with Cristiano Ronaldo happy to welcome defender
Pepe has returned to full training with the Portugal squad and is expected to start in the Euro 2016 final against host nation France on Sunday. 

The Real Madrid centre back missed Portugal's 2-0 semi-final win over Wales after suffering a thigh injury in the quarter-final win over Poland.
Pepe trained alone on Thursday and Friday, completing light drills under the supervision of a personal coach, but has now made sufficient progress to join up with the rest of his team-mates. 
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo believes the team can deliver the nation's first-ever major titleĀ 
William Carvalho, meanwhile, is also back in contention for the showdown with Les Bleus after serving a suspension for picking up two yellow cards in the group-stage.
Captain Cristiano Ronaldo is confident that Portugal can finally shake their hoodoo at major international competitions and deliver the country's first title.   Portugal are through to their first major final since Euro 2004 and Ronaldo believes they are on the brink of their watershed moment.    
Comparing this final to the one lost against Greece 12 years ago, the striker told reporters: 'This is different. I was 18, that was my first final. My debut.'
Ronaldo added: 'Now 12 years have gone by and now we are going to play another final. I am very proud of that.
'I have always dreamed of winning for Portugal, I hope it is our turn now.' 
Ronaldo joined Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2009 for a then world-record £80million transfer fee and has since racked up an astonishing goal tally. 
Not since his debut season in Spain has the 31-year-old failed to find the back of the net at least 50 times for his club.
Portugal have never won a major international tournament in their history but have reached the quarter-final stage in each of the last six European Championships.
Ronaldo believes that this current squad can finally make good on undoubted potential. 
The former Sporting Lisbon prodigy said: 'I am very confident and I believe all these boys deserve it. 
'I deserve it, Portugal deserves it, the fans deserve it – every single Portuguese person deserves it. They've been amazing supporters.
'We've yet to win anything but it's the final. I don't think many people thought Portugal would make it to the final but we are there.
'That fills me with pride, I am very happy. Now we have to get ready for Sunday and we want to make this dream true.' 

PORTUGAL AT THE WORLD CUP

1930 Did not enter
1934-1962 Did not qualify
1966 Semi-finals
1970-1982 Did not qualify
1986 Group-stage 
1990-1998 Did not qualify
2002 Group-stage
2006 Semi-finals
2010 Last-16
2014 Group-stage 

PORTUGAL AT THE EUROS

1960-1980 Did not qualify
1984 Semi-finals
1988-1992 Did not qualify
1996 Quarter-finals
2000 Semi-finals
2004 Runners-up
2008 Quarter-finals
2012 Semi-finals
2016 Final 

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