SAINTS captain Jose Fonte's remarkable football story took another incredible twist tonight as he and Portugal reached the final of Euro 2016 with a 2-0 win over Wales.

Fonte and St Mary's colleague Cedric Soares will face the winners of Thursday's other semi-final between Germany and hosts France in Sunday's finale in Paris.

Experienced central defender Fonte and right back Cedric both played the full game in the triumph in Lyon, in which former Manchester United pair Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani netted in the second half to crush Welsh dreams.

Saints academy graduate and Real Madrid teammate of Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, along with Southampton-born Burnley striker Sam Vokes, who came on as a second half substitute, fought hard, but saw their superb Euros run finally end.

A weakened Wales side were without the influential Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey and defender Ben Davies, but were bright throughout.

For Fonte, 32, it represented another milestone in his incredible rise from League One to established Premier League and international defender.

The Alan Pardew signing, who joined Saints in 2010 and has played a vital role in the club's surge back in to the Premier League, admitted prior to the last-four match with Wales that it 'means the world' for him to be playing for his country.

Neither Cedric nor Fonte started in any of Portugal’s group games, in which they drew all three of their games.

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However, manager Fernando Santos called the Saints pair into action from the start for the last-16 extra-time win over Croatia, before they kept their places for the quarter-final penalty shoot-out victory over Poland.

Both will now be confident of holding onto their places for the final on Sunday at the Stade De France after helping their side to three consecutive triumphs.

After a goalless first 45 minutes, it was Portugal that broke the deadlock five minutes after the interval as Ronaldo leapt highest to send home a brilliant header from a corner.

Bale had two of Wales’ three shots on target in the game, but was powerless as Nani slid home to make it 2-0.

Portugal might have had more as Ronaldo flashed over a free-kick and Wayne Hennessey caught up with Danilo's effort as the ball trickled towards the goal-line.

There was a late flourish from Bale with two powerful attempts from distance, as well as a booking for a high foot on Cedric, but the night belonged to Ronaldo and Portugal.

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Wales now return home as heroes after they reached the last four of a major finals for the first time.

Less than five years ago Wales were ranked 117th in the world, yet when the World Cup qualifiers start in September they could be inside the top six.