However, Portugal used Ronaldo’s injury as motivation as they were finally crowned champions of Europe, having lost the Euro 2004 final on home soil against Greece.
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That strike gave Portugal their first ever European Champions title.
“We left a lot of energy in the game against Germany and we were probably not as fresh as we needed to be”, Deschamps said.
The actions of the boy, named Mathis, “communicated the intense emotions of the final and demonstrated the way to be friendly, tolerant and authentically Portuguese”, added the tourist board.
Portugal centre-back Pepe reveals his delight after helping his country win Euro 2016 with a 1-0 success over hosts France.
“Ugly duckling”: The result ended Portugal’s run of 10 straight defeats against France, who had eliminated them in the semi-finals at Euro 1984, Euro 2000 and the 2006 World Cup.
Ramsey and Allen join a star-studded list including the likes of Toni Kroos, Antoine Griezmann and Pepe. I don’t know what he thought when he hugged me but Portugal were just winners. “Yes”, said Santos after the quarter-final win over Croatia, also in extra-time. “I had already won everything with clubs”. “I remember, for me and the team, everybody was a little bit in shock I think”.
“You’re the ones who attacked the most but Portugal have cancelled out your tactics'”.
“It was not the final I wanted, but I am very happy”.
“But we’re even prouder to be on the pitch, to really feel the entire French population behind us, to feel this happiness which is really shared between the players and the French people”.
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An average of only 2.12 goals were scored per game, the lowest figure at the European Championships since Euro 96, some five tournaments ago.
