With man-of-the-match defender Pepe carrying the prize down the steps the 23-man squad boarded an open-top bus marked “Champions” for a victory parade. The shift to a more pragmatic approach brought about by Santos changed that and left Portugal fans weeping tears of joy instead of tears of “what might have been”.
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“This is something that only happens once in a lifetime”, he added.
Numerous fans, clad in blue France shirts and with the tricolore draped around their shoulders, sat down before filing out in near-silence as the host nation’s party fell flat.
“We are the best in Europe”.
A disconsolate France also went to meet their country’s leader.
PARIS French President Francois Hollande’s popularity has recovered slightly from a recent low as street protests against a contested labour reform have abated, a poll showed on Monday.
Ronaldo went down under Dimitri Payet’s ninth-minute challenge and was twice forced off to receive treatment on the touchline. Now we have to come back stronger.
“We’re all sad and unhappy, but that’s football, sometimes it gives and sometimes it takes away”, said forward Antoine Griezmann, who scored six goals in the finals but failed to find the back of the net when it mattered the most.
One of the most enduring images of the Euro 2016 soccer championships didn’t feature superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
There were a few very good games in the tournament – Italy beating Belgium, Wales triumphing over the same opponents, and Portugal’s thrilling draw with Hungary – but in all honesty it lacked excitement and attacking flair.
“I like Griezmann a lot, but he was not the player of the tournament”. “He gave me strength and positive energy”.
Portugal defended doggedly and threatened occasionally without their inspirational skipper.
“It was a goal I’ve been working for from the first minute of the Euros”.
Relieved of any obligation to pass to Ronaldo every time he was free or allow him to take free kicks, Portugal’s players appeared less inhibited without him on the pitch.
“Today I had bad luck because I had a small injury in the beginning of the teams, but my colleagues did their part – they run, they fight … nobody believed in Portugal but we won”, Ronaldo said. “Griezmann on the other hand was dropped for the second game”.
“The disappointment is there and it’s huge”, Deschamps told French television.
Ricardo Quaresma has spoken of his admiration for team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo after Portugal were crowned European champions.
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Having flattered to deceive yet again at Euro 2016, Spain are now priced at 11/1 (12.00) to return to the imperious form that saw them claim three consecutive major tournament victories when they travel East without the resigned Vicente Del Bosque.
