Here’s what happened on Sunday on Matchday 23 of UEFA Euro 2016 in France, in case you missed it…
THE RESULT
• Match report: Portugal 1, France 0 in Saint-Denis || Match stats
THOUGHTS ON THE DAY
Portugal deserved champions of Europe: The statistics don’t necessarily paint a favourable portrait of Portugal’s historical European Championship victory. The Portuguese went undefeated in the competition, but were ahead for only 73 minutes of the 720 minutes they played in France. They never won a group stage game, qualifying for the knockout round as a third-place team, and they only won one of their seven matches in regulation time. What’s more, Portugal’s cautious tactics didn’t exactly win over neutral fans—where was the attacking, swashbuckling brand of soccer we’ve come to expect from them? Portugal’s win over France in Sunday’s final left a sour taste in a lot of mouths of critics who felt they not only didn’t deserve to win the tournament, but that they were also incredibly lucky to do so.
Here’s the thing, though: You don’t fluke your way to winning an international tournament such as the European Championship. You simply don’t. You don’t survive a tough group that included Hungary and Iceland, you don’t beat teams the calibre of Croatia and Poland, and you don’t best a nation in Wales that had a great deal of momentum behind it strictly with luck. As far as that old chestnut about how Portugal wouldn’t have even qualified for the second round under the old Euro format, that’s a facile argument. Who cares? They won this tournament. That’s all the matters. One win in 90 minutes? Who cares? Did I miss the memo that says victories earned in extra time or in a shootout don’t count the same?
Ultimately, skill, tournament management, and execution of a clear game plan were the major reasons why the Portuguese were crowned kings of Europe.
Full credit must be given to manager Fernando Santos for setting up a tactical system in which his players thrived. He not only changed the way Portugal has historically played, but he also managed to squeeze every ounce of talent out a side that was hardly the most talented at this tournament. Portugal a one-man team that relies on Cristiano Ronaldo to carry them? That argument has been put to bed, hasn’t it? Ronaldo had his moments in France, but he was hardly the dominant player we’ve witnessed over his career. It says so much about this team’s character that it was able to carry on and beat the host nation without their captain and talisman.
Say what you will about how Portugal played—it wasn’t especially attractive or adventurous, but it was pretty effective. Led by the commanding Pepe, Portugal proved to be very well organized and incredibly tough for opponents to break down. They were also the most consistent side in the completion—they were never out of any game, and always managed to get a result. That’s what teams do. That’s what champions do. You don’t have to like way Portugal did it. But you have to give them their due—they earned it.
Ronaldo’s legacy enhanced: Tears of sadness turned into tears of joy for Cristiano Ronaldo in the space of two hours on Sunday. The Real Madrid star crashed to the pitch in a heap after being clattered into by Dimitri Payet. The knee-on-knee collision reduced Ronaldo to tears as he originally limped off the pitch. Portugal’s medical staff bandaged his knee up, and he returned to the game for a few minutes, but the pain was just too much. He was stretchered off in the 24th minute, forcing Portugal to play the majority of the game without its captain and best player. Ronaldo was crying after the final whistle, but this time his emotions got the better of him for an entirely different reason, as his country won its first major international tournament at senior level, something the much-heralded “Golden Generation” of Luis Figo and Rui Costa never delivered.
Even though Portugal won this game without Ronaldo, his legacy was still enhanced, his reputation boosted by what took place on Sunday. No doubt had he scored the winner in dramatic fashion that it would have done wonders for his status as one of the greatest players of all time.
But there was something far more compelling, far more human about the way he tried to fight through the pain, the way he tried to carry on, and the way he asked to be subbed out (knowing he’d be a burden rather than a help) than any piece of skill he could have produced on the pitch. The sight of him on the bench as he encouraged his teammates in extra time, and the way he was anxiously walking up and down the technical area, all the while carrying a heavy limp and clearly in physical agony, in the dying minutes will be among the lasting images of this tournament. Ronaldo’s mental and physical toughness has long come into question by his most vocal critics. Surely, he’s proved to them he’s as tough as they come.
THE GOAL
In the 109th minute, Eder took a pass and that went on a bit of a run while fighting off a couple of challenges before hitting a low shot from 25 yards out that beat French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
SAVE OF THE DAY
In the 10th minute, Dimitri Payet played a ball on for Antoine Griezmann. The Atletico Madrid forward directed a looping header towards goal that Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio tipped over the crossbar with a stunning one-handed save.
BEST MOMENT OF THE DAY
TWEET OF THE DAY
THE GAME WITHIN THE GAME
SIX PACK OF STATS
• Portugal is the 10th different nation to win the European Championship.
• Cristiano Ronaldo made just eight touches on the ball before being subbed out of Sunday’s final.
• Eder is the sixth substitute to score in a Euro final, along with Oliver Bierhoff, Sylvain Wiltord, David Trezeguet, Juan Mata and Fernando Torres.
• This was the sixth Euro final to go to extra time, but the first to end goalless after 90 minutes.
• Ronaldo is the first player to start in a second Euro final more than four years after his first (12 years—2004 and 2016).
• Portugal’s Renato Sanches (at 18 years and 326 days) is the youngest player to appear in a Euro final.
Stats courtesy of Opta
BURNING QUESTION
3 STARS
1) Rui Patricio, Portugal: The veteran goalkeeper made a number of smart and important saves to keep Portugal in the game.
2) Pepe, Portugal: Another outstanding effort from the defender who anchored a Portuguese back line that thwarted the hosts.
3) Eder, Portugal: Entered the match in the 79th minute, and scored the winner in extra time.
TOURNAMENT SO FAR
•Matchday 1 recap: Magnificent Payet rescues France || Typical Giroud performance
•Matchday 2 recap: England gets what it deserves || Bale already proving his worth for Wales
•Matchday 3 recap: Modric pure magic for Croatia || Germany’s Goetze not a false 9
•Matchday 4 recap: Spain’s resolve sees them through || Italy’s experience the difference
•Matchday 5 recap: Portugal blows it || The hoopla over Kiraly’s pants
•Matchday 6 recap: It can be a cruel game at times || What was Deschamps thinking?
•Matchday 7 recap: English relief after beating Wales || You gotta love Northern Ireland
•Matchday 8 recap: Spain sends a message
•Matchday 9 recap: Ronaldo cuts a distraught figure
•Matchday 10 recap: Albania has held its own || In defence of Ronaldo
•Matchday 11 recap: Slim margins could doom England || What is England? Does Hodgson know?
•Matchday 12 recap: Croatia turns tournament on its head ||
•Matchday 13 recap: Ronaldo is just trolling us || England should fear Iceland
•Matchday 14 recap: A day to completely forget in France || Shaqiri’s strike can’t save the day
•Matchday 15 recap: Irish adversity best thing for France
•Matchday 16 recap: Buffon’s ‘Zoff moment’ for Italy || So, what’s next for Italy?
•Matchday 17 recap: Not pretty, but Portugal grinds it out
•Matchday 18 recap: Wales much more than just Gareth Bale
•Matchday 19 recap: Italy leaves with heads held high
•Matchday 20 recap: Shades of 1998 World Cup for France || France simply too much for Iceland
•Matchday 21 recap: Portugal’s fight for respect continues || Portugal the new grind-masters
•Matchday 22 recap: Griezmann among the best in the world || France goys from boys to men
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