In a final that was representative of much of the tournament, Portugal set up to defend vigourously to frustrate their more favoured opponents with home advantage, France, at the Stade de France, to claim the 2016 European Championship courtesy of a goal from Eder in the second half of extra time.
After a cagey opening few minutes where France looked to impose themselves on the final, the Portuguese suffered a major blow when Cristiano Ronaldo, collecting the ball on the right wing near the halfway line, was tackled by France’s Dimitri Payet who, in winning the ball, caught Ronaldo’s left knee which immediately led to him falling to the ground and clutching the injury. Despite treatment and strapping, Ronaldo struggled for another 10 minutes or so before being replaced. Portugal massed their defensive ranks, and restructured to operate without their talisman.
Griezmann had the first chance of the game, his header tipped over in the 10th minute from 15 yards by Rui Patricio from a Payet cross from half way into the Portuguese half on the left wing, and threatened a few times in the first half, mainly through shots and chances that resulted from a number of surging runs through the central midfield from Sissoko. Portugal were probably pleased to reach the half time break goalless.
The second half carried on in a similar vein, with Griezmann heading over from Kumon’s cross in the 65th minute. Portugal produced a rare scare in the 80th minute when, after finding himself free on the right corner of the penalty box, Nani curled a cross/shot goalwards that looked to be headed over goalkeeper Hugo Lloris into the top left hand corner of the net, but was pawed away by Lloris, who then saved a resultant 10 yard shot from Ricardo Quaresma.
The game was moving towards extra time when France had a chance to win the game when, after a left wing cross from Evra, substitute Gignac swivelled on the left corner of the 6 yard box in the 92nd minute, before firing his shot past goalkeeper Rui Patricio onto the inside edge of the left hand post and ricocheting across the 6 yard box where Griezmann could not add a finishing touch.
In extra time, the 2 tired sides struggled to impose themselves on the game. Few chances were created, but in a rare breakaway in the second half of extra time, Portugal were awarded a central free kick 20 yards out when Koscielny was penalised for handball.
Rafael Ferreiro struck the underside of the crossbar from the free kick and, after the ball was not properly cleared, Portugal won the ball on the left wing half way into the French half, the ball was fed to Eder 25 yards out just wide of the left hand post where he worked inside before striking a right foot shot inside Lloris’ left hand post with 12 minutes remaining.
France still had time to force an equaliser but failed to create any clear cut chances.
Portugal held on to claim their first major international trophy collected by captain Ronaldo.
Congratulations to Portugal, but the result and some of the football was a little disappointing, where the trophy was collected by a side that only qualified for the knockout stages after finishing third in their group, and only won one game in regulation time, and where too many games involved a side trying to stymy their more talented opponents who failed to break down a massed defence set by their opponents.
Allan Jackson has been involved in soccer for more than 40 years as a player, referee, administrator, and freelance writer.
