Portugal Triumphs Over France in Dramatic Extra-Time Victory at UEFA Euro 2016 Final

Portugal is the 2016 UEFA EURO champion. In extra time in Saint-Denis, the squad that had drawn all three of their group matches and had only triumphed once in 90 minutes throughout the tournament defeated the hosts France to win their first major prize.

They succeeded even without the indispensable Cristiano Ronaldo, who was pulled off the field early in the first half due to injury. At times, Fernando Santos’s team struggled, but in the end, with Ronaldo managing matters from the sidelines just as much as their coach, they managed to provide the one magical moment needed. Eder was simply too good with his lightning-fast 20-meter strike in the second half of extra time.

despite eight minutes, this seemed unfeasible: Ronaldo continued despite a hard contact with Dimitri Payet, but he was soon replaced. As he was escorted off, there were tears and a standing ovation from everyone. Everything that was discussed, examined, and forecasted was thrown out the window. 61 international goals were scored.

Moussa Sissoko was a man hunting only his second. Soon after Ronaldo left, the France midfielder went on the rampage and threatened to break the deadlock, but his attempt was saved.

Antoine Griezmann had earlier been denied by Rui Patricio, who skillfully parried the prolific forward’s looping header. Portugal didn’t contribute much in those initial exchanges, with the hosts being encouraged by three passes made right out of play.

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After replacing Payet within the hour, Kingsley Coman set up Griezmann for what would have been the game’s most important opportunity: Les Bleus’ No. 7 was unmarked but headed over. Even though Olivier Giroud attempted to join in momentarily and with little effort, Rui Patricio was once again more than capable. Later in the half, Sissoko delivered a powerful strike that required him to be even more alert.

The Portugal keeper was only beaten once, and it was well into added time. The ball wobbled towards the net as substitute Andre-Pierre Gignac twisted in the box and scuffed it, only for it to painfully ricochet back off a post.

Hugo Lloris was seldom used during regulation time, coming into play only once to block Nani’s erroneous cross and then stop Ricardo Quaresma‘s spectacular shot on the rebound. Even though he stopped Eder’s header later, Raphael Guerreiro’s free kick was saved by the crossbar, and with 109 minutes remaining, the French captain was powerless to save the incredible winner.