Where the EURO 2016 final was won
Sunday, July 10, 2016
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EURO2016.com analyses the key moments from Portugal's final triumph – from Cristiano Ronaldo's early departure to Éder's unexpected match-winning strike.
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Ronaldo forces reshape
It goes without saying that any side would miss a player as potent as Cristiano Ronaldo – his early injury, subsequent attempt to play on and eventual departure on a stretcher dominated much of the first half and beyond. Substitute Ricardo Quaresma was unable to lead the line as effectively – although to be fair, who would be? – and Portugal duly dug in, getting virtually everyone behind the ball at times.
Not until the introduction of Éder with 11 minutes left in normal time did Fernando Santos's team have a recognised striker, although the likes of Nani and the excellent João Mário had increasingly enabled Portugal to make inroads on the break. Yet just when it looked as if the match was drifting to penalties, the counter-punching plan came to fruition.
France contained
So brilliant on the attack in the second half against the Republic of Ireland, and thereafter against Iceland and Germany, France were unable to penetrate a stubborn Portuguese rearguard. With a blanket defence largely smothering Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud, and with Dimitri Payet so ineffective he was withdrawn before the hour, Les Bleus were unable to get in behind the Selecção das Quinas. While Payet's replacement Kingsley Coman briefly threatened to unlock the door, the excellent Raphael Guerreiro was quick to slam it shut again.
Goalkeeping heroics
Not since the 1980 final had a goalkeeper made more saves than the seven Rui Patrício managed in normal time here – the pick being a stop in each half from Sissoko; the first a block in which he stayed on his feet, the second a plunging intervention to his right. The Sporting glovesman had kept only one clean sheet in Group F – he was beaten three times by Hungary – yet he added three more in the knockout stage. Crucially, he was unbeaten for the last 298 minutes of Portugal's championship campaign.
Going the extra distance
Five games at UEFA EURO 2016 went to extra time and those additional 30-minute spells yielded just two goals – both scored by Portugal and both by replacements. First Quaresma popped up to nod the 117th-minute clincher against Croatia in the last 16, when Portugal mustered a mere five attempts on goal to their opponents' 17. Then, at the Stade de France, Santos's side stood firm again. France had double the number of shots on goal – 18 compared with nine – but Portugal remained unbowed. A team who had led for only 73 of their 720 minutes at the tournament were going home with the trophy.
Éder's perfect timing
Éder had never scored a competitive goal for Portugal – indeed, before tonight he had registered only three strikes in 28 internationals – but his 79th-minute introduction in place of midfielder Renato Sanches gave his side a focal point as Santos switched formation from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3. His physical presence also forced Laurent Koscielny and Samuel Umtiti onto the back foot – and his masterful bullying of the France central defenders created the space from which his stunning drive won EURO.