Reuters
Paris, July 11: Eusebio da Silva Ferreira (Eusebio) must be finally a contended man wherever he may be now. Known as the ‘Black Pearl’ after his exploits in the 1966 World Cup where Portugal finished third, Eusebio had always craved his country to win a major trophy. Prior to the Euro 2016 final Sunday, Portugal had two best results to show for their efforts. A third place finish in the 1966 World Cup and a Euro final loss in 2004.
But Sunday changed all that. Portugal found an unlikely hero as Eder’s thunderous finish deep into extra-time secured their first European Championship title after they overcame the early loss of Cristiano Ronaldo to snatch a 1-0 victory over hosts France at the Stade de France here.
The substitute picked the perfect time to score his first competitive goal for his country, marauding forward before letting fly with a bullet shot from 25 metres in the 109th minute. It was a magic moment for the 28-year-old who plays for French club Lille and delivered a devastating knockout blow to decide a tight and cagey encounter.
“It was amazing,” the striker told reporters. “We fought with immense strength, we were amazing. I think we deserve this title due to the work we put in, all the players and the staff.”
The trophy was lifted triumphantly by Ronaldo, who broke down in tears at the final whistle after his own game had come to a frustrating end with 24 minutes on the clock when he cried as he was carried off the pitch on a stretcher with a knee injury after Dimitri Payet’s challenge left him in a heap on the floor.
For France it was a debilitating defeat after they had come into the match as heavy favourites and hoping to lift the spirits of a nation still recovering from last November’s attacks here close to the venue.
“We missed a chance, maybe not a unique chance, but a great chance to become European champions,” Deschamps said. “Our disappointment is immense and will take time to digest. We won together, we suffered together and we lost together. It would have been magnificent to offer this trophy to our supporters, here at home.”
For the much of the match, there had looked like being only one winner as France began with early attacking intent, fuelled by the bullish presence and charging runs of Moussa Sissoko in midfield.
His 34th-minute shot was well-parried by Portugal keeper Rui Patricio, but by that point the match had settled into a pattern of France probing and pushing but struggling to break down their more defensively-minded opponents.
Without Ronaldo, Portugal seemed in no hurry to rush the ball forward, happy to see the game descend into a cagey, tactical battle. They had a scare, however, in the 67th minute when Kingsley Coman’s cross found Antoine Griezmann unmarked six metres from goal, only for the tournament’s top scorer to head a golden opportunity over.
Minutes later, Olivier Giroud, fed by sprightly substitute Coman, forced a diving save from Patricio, who then parried away a pile-driver from Sissoko as France turned the screw.
France’s best chance of the night arrived in stoppage time when substitute Andre-Pierre Gignac turned his marker inside out before scuffing a shot past the keeper and against the post, with the ball bouncing across the face of goal and then out of harm’s way.
While Portugal continued to sit back in extra time, they had the better chances with Eder’s header parried by Hugo Lloris in the French goal and Raphael Guerreiro striking the crossbar with a free kick before Eder’s moment of magic.
Portugal had truly turned on a ‘EBLOUISSANTES’ show.
From agony to ecstacy
AFP
Paris: Cristiano Ronaldo cried twice in the Euro 2016 final, once when he was stretchered off injured and again when he limped back on in joy after his Portugal teammates claimed a historic win over France here Sunday.
When he succumbed to a knee injury midway through the first half at the Stade de France here, it looked set to be a miserable night for the three-time ‘World Player of the Year’.
“Today (Sunday) I felt sadness and happiness. What I can say is that it was one of the happiest moments of my life. I cried,” said Ronaldo, who later, despite his injury, danced his way through the mixed zone in Paris with several teammates, without stopping for waiting reporters.
“I felt it would be him (Eder) who would resolve the game in extra-time. I am not a wizard or a visionary but I always follow my feelings. My instincts told me he could get the winner,” Ronaldo pointed out.
Ronaldo had been floored by a heavy challenge from France’s Dimitri Payet in the eighth minute of the game. He tried to continue but after trying one accelerated run he sat down in the 24th minute before signalling that he could not carry on. He took off the captain’s armband and, as the tears welled up, was carried off on a stretcher.
Payet escaped any sanction from referee Mark Clattenburg for the challenge, something that disappointed Portugal coach Fernando Santos. “I think the referee should have shown a card. I respect the referees, I think they are all unbiased and honest, but I think he should have flashed something, and he didn’t even blow for a foul,” said Santos.
“Our captain made an immense effort. Twice he tried as much as he could to get back on the pitch but he couldn’t carry on. Him being there in the dressing room and on the bench was very important, the way he motivated the players,” Santos added.
As the clock ticked down, his face was a picture of emotion, pushing a substitute onto the pitch before erupting in joy at the final whistle. His tightly strapped leg did not stop him hobbling up the steps at the Stade de France to lift the trophy and he was bursting with pride as he showed off the prize.
He had to be happy. After all he had gone one-up on eternal rival Lionel Messi.
Losing to Cristiano sucks: Griezmann
Paris: Losing a final to Cristiano Ronaldo has become an unfortunate habit for Antoine Griezmann and he is not happy about it.
The France forward missed a penalty for Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final in May and his team went on to lose on penalties to city rivals Real with Ronaldo sealing the shootout win.
“I’ve just lost my second final in just over a month and it sucks losing again,” Griezmann told reporters after Les Bleus lost 0-1 in extra-time Portugal.
Griezmann’s usual boyish looks were on display as ever but not the smile that normally goes with them when he collected his trophy for the top scorer in the tournament. The speedy 25-year-old netted six goals in the tournament, but failed to score when it mattered the most.
“We came close, really close,” said Griezmann. “Portugal did not create many chances but they were smart and it paid off for them. “It’s frustrating. I’m proud of our group and of what we have achieved but this was simply not our night.”
France coach Didier Deschamps, who helped Griezmann shine at the tournament by moving him closer to Olivier Giroud up front, offered sympathy. “Antoine is a great player and we owe him a lot,” Deschamps told reporters. “Maybe he was not clinical or fresh enough tonight but I can’t reproach him and there will be better days for him, I’m sure.”