We weren’t cool-headed enough, but I can’t hold anything against my players.
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He fell to the ground in agony in the eighth minute following a clattering challenge from Dimitri Payet. He tried several times to come back but he wasn’t able to run properly and he was substituted by Quaresma in the first half.
“Cristiano told me I would be scoring the winning goal”, Eder said. They didn’t necessarily play positive football over the tournament, and they only won one match in 90 minutes, but it showed great strength of character for them to win this.
Ronaldo had left the field in tears but returned to the touchline after half-time and gave directions at his teammates for the remainder of the match, which Soares praised. We have made Portuguese history, we are the first to win an important competition for our country. “It would be utopian to not use Ronaldo and all his added value”.
“I am going to analyse things with my staff and we will start again on what is waiting for us in two years”.
Portugal defended doggedly and threatened occasionally without their inspirational skipper.
According to reports, France had got an open-top bus at the ready for the victory procession but the party poopers from Portugal stole a march on them.
It was the first time 24 teams have competed at the tournament, and it led the way for more nations to make their debuts.
UEFA has also named its the tournament with some notable exclusions like Gareth Bale and Hugo Lloris.
Former France global Frank Leboeuf believes UEFA were misguided in their decision to award Euro 2016 player of the tournament to Antoine Griezmann.
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“I’d like to thank my team-mates, our coach, our wider team in this Euro, the Portuguese people and all the ex-pats who were always with us, cheering for us from the beginning”.
