Eder’s long range winner in extra time has lifted Portugal to its first ever major tournament honour, as hosts France stumbled at the final hurdle.
After Cristiano Ronaldo succumbed to a knee injury in the 25th minute, the task got that much harder, but this honest, hard-working group banded together when it mattered most to find a way.
Renato Sanches (Portugal)
Despite Germany’s exit at the hands of France at the semi final stage, Bayern Munich supporters still have reason to salivate at the season ahead with a strong display from their new signing in the final.
After Cristiano Ronaldo was cruelly forced off due to injury with only 25 minutes gone, Sanches was deployed in a central role which better suits his skill-set. The 18-year-old showed composure well beyond his years, and could be the new talisman of Portuguese football after Ronaldo’s time comes to an end.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Rui Patricio (Portugal)
Time and time again, this man laughed in the face of what looked to be an inevitable wave of French pressure.
Aside from his many saves, which were of high quality, the confidence in which he came for crosses, dealt with uncertain situations and marshalled the troops (Pepe, Jose Fonte, William Carvalho) ahead of him in an exceptional manner.
7 – Since 1980, no goalkeeper has made more saves in a EURO final than #POR's Rui Patricio (@Pschmeichel1 also 7 v Germany in 1992). Heroic.
— OptaCan (@OptaCan) July 10, 2016
Eder (Portugal)
The unthinkable happened time and time again in this match.
Ronaldo went off injured and no one could believe it. France failed to break down a Portuguese side that failed to automatically qualify from their group. Antoine Griezmann missed a sitter from six yards. Eder scored the decisive goal in the final of the 2016 European Championship.
The biggest moment of his life, and, at least in a sporting context, that of his country.
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