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Who needs Ronaldo?

Swansea flop Eder scores extra-time winner to snatch glory and stun host nation

Cristiano Ronaldo cries tears of joy after leaving the pitch in despair following early knee injury

SHAKE your head all you like.

Five weeks ago, even England beat Portugal in a friendly at Wembley.

 

 Cristiano Ronaldo lifts the European Championship trophy aloft as Portugal are crowned champions following their victory over France
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Cristiano Ronaldo lifts the European Championship trophy aloft as Portugal are crowned champions following their victory over FranceCredit: Getty Images
 The Portugal side celebrate their shock Euro 2016 victory over France
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The Portugal side celebrate their shock Euro 2016 victory over FranceCredit: Reuters

Fast forward to the Stade de France and Fernando Santos has just led them to European glory.

It is another twist of the knife for English football.

Anyway, enough of that.

This night is about Portugal — population of 12 million — and their remarkable battle through this bloated football tournament.

Two years ago they crashed out of the World Cup in Brazil at the group stage. Sound familiar?

They took their medicine, took a kicking and came back stronger.

Yes, this was supposed to be France’s final, a glorious homecoming for the players after travelling around the country to Lille, Marseilles and Lyon.

 

 Eder celebrates his injury time winner as Portugal beat France to be crowned European champions
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Eder celebrates his injury time winner as Portugal beat France to be crowned European championsCredit: Getty Images
 Eder strikes from 25-yards as Portugal snatch Euro 2016 victory
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Eder strikes from 25-yards as Portugal snatch Euro 2016 victoryCredit: Getty Images
 Cristiano Ronaldo cried tears of joy as his Portugal side beat France in extra-time to win Euro 2016
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Cristiano Ronaldo cried tears of joy as his Portugal side beat France in extra-time to win Euro 2016Credit: Reuters
 The Portugal squad mob goal hero Eder after his extra-time strike opened the scoring against France
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The Portugal squad mob goal hero Eder after his extra-time strike opened the scoring against FranceCredit: Getty Images

 

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Substitute Eder lets fly from long-range to score the winning goal for Portugal against France in the Euro 2016 final

 France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is nestled in the back of the net after he was beaten by Eder's long-range strike
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France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is nestled in the back of the net after he was beaten by Eder's long-range strikeCredit: Reuters

It feels like the back of beyond for them now.

Eder, a £5million flop flogged on by Swansea at the start of the summer, scored the decisive goal for Portugal after 109 minutes.

It prompted some remarkable celebrations, with the entire Portuguese bench racing on to the pitch to celebrate his special strike.

Remember, Portugal could not even win a group game against little Iceland, Hungary or Austria.

In many ways they deserved it for their resolve alone, coping without superstar skipper Cristiano Ronaldo after he was forced off after 24 minutes through injury.

Mr Muscles is usually the man for the big occasion.

He saved Portugal by scoring twice in their final group game — a 3-3 draw against Hungary — that feels like a lifetime ago.

The guy is ageless, leaping into the air to score with a brilliant header in the semi-final against Wales. Normally he would have bounced off Dimitri Payet’s seventh-minute challenge. This time, his night was over.

 

 Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with Portugal coach Fernando Santos as the country seal Euro 2016 glory over France
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Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with Portugal coach Fernando Santos as the country seal Euro 2016 glory over FranceCredit: Reuters
 Cristiano Ronaldo and goal hero Eder celebrate as Portugal win Euro 2016
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Cristiano Ronaldo and goal hero Eder celebrate as Portugal win Euro 2016Credit: Reuters
 Ronaldo can hardly hide his joy as he lifts the European Championship trophy at the Stade de France
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Ronaldo can hardly hide his joy as he lifts the European Championship trophy at the Stade de FranceCredit: AP:Associated Press

What followed next was remarkable, with the Stade de France rising in honour of one of the game’s greatest. It was tingling stuff.

On came Ricardo Quaresma in his place. It is no fun trying to emulate Ronnie — and it is no fun watching it, either.
France were forced to take the initiative, under pressure to win a hat-trick of European Championships in front of their own fans.

Instead, they seized up, failing to meet expectations.

Big players, commanding even bigger transfer fees, could not find a way past Rui Patricio.

Antoine Griezmann, what with his six goals and that velvet slipper of a left boot, wanted to do it all himself.

One first-half header was tipped away, another flashed over Patricio’s crossbar.

France were pumped up, with an impromptu war cry from Patrice Evra before kick-off that would give the Haka a run for its money.

Around 80,000 Les Bleus fans were up for it as well, belting out La Marseillaise and waving La Tricolore from the stands.

 

 There were wild celebrations on the streets of Lisbon after Portugal's success
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There were wild celebrations on the streets of Lisbon after Portugal's successCredit: Getty Images
 Portuguese fans in their own capital city celebrate after their team's victory in Paris
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Portuguese fans in their own capital city celebrate after their team's victory in ParisCredit: Getty Images
 The celebrations went long into the night in Lisbon after Portugal's win
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The celebrations went long into the night in Lisbon after Portugal's winCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Antoine Griezmann sliced an early chance wide as France pressed for the lead in the Euro 2016 final against Portugal
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Antoine Griezmann sliced an early chance wide as France pressed for the lead in the Euro 2016 final against PortugalCredit: AP:Associated Press

Sadly, the players could not make it a special homecoming. The idea that you can flog some of the world’s footballers for ten months of the year then add another five weeks on the end for their countries is ludicrous.

France had two full days rest after beating world champions Germany in the semi-finals. Portugal, who beat Wales, had three.

It would be easy to give the players a coating, but there has been so little preparation time on the training field.

Eat. Sleep. Travel. Play. Repeat. Ridiculous. Never mind the quality, count the cash.

France were so fitful, waiting for the inspiration to come from Paul Pogba, Payet or the magic man Griezmann.

Instead, Moussa Sissoko, France’s best player on the night, nearly put them ahead.

 

 Antoine Griezmann connects with a Dimtri Payet pass to direct a header towards the top corner only for Rui Patricio to save
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Antoine Griezmann connects with a Dimtri Payet pass to direct a header towards the top corner only for Rui Patricio to saveCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Rui Patricio stretches to turn Antoine Griezmann's header away for a corner
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Rui Patricio stretches to turn Antoine Griezmann's header away for a cornerCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Antoine Griezmann cannot believe his header has been saved by Rui Patricio
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Antoine Griezmann cannot believe his header has been saved by Rui PatricioCredit: AP:Associated Press

He sent Adrien Silva for a hot dog, turning the defender inside the area before Patricio came to Portugal’s rescue.

There were roadblocks everywhere, with that nuisance Pepe and his central defensive partner Jose Fonte keeping Olivier Giroud quiet.

Cedric Soares was booked by Mark Clattenburg, cautioned for nobbling Payet in a pre-meditated revenge attack for the challenge that ended Ronaldo’s final.

The West Ham star was booed off the field by Portugal’s supporters when he was substituted after 57 minutes. They did not forget.

It does not matter now, because they have their hands on the trophy for the first time.

 

 Dimitri Payet's tackle sees his knee collide with Cristiano Ronaldo's
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Dimitri Payet's tackle sees his knee collide with Cristiano Ronaldo'sCredit: Reuters
 Cristiano Ronaldo is left in pain after Dimtri Payet's challenge
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Cristiano Ronaldo is left in pain after Dimtri Payet's challengeCredit: Reuters
 Cristiano Ronaldo hands the armband to Nani as he realises his game is over
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Cristiano Ronaldo hands the armband to Nani as he realises his game is overCredit: Reuters

The first signs of serious ambition came ten minutes from time when France, almost out of steam, began to slow up.

Hugo Lloris pawed Nani’s mishit cross into the path of Quaresma and the Portugal winger connected with a volley straight into the France keeper’s hands.

Then came the inevitable — extra-time.

Pepe’s header went wide and Raphael Guerreiro — born in France — saw a free-kick rebound off the crossbar.

 

Then came the goal, with Eder finishing France off with a 25-yard right-foot strike that deserved to win the final for Portugal.

It is a remarkable triumph, especially with the generosity of their hosts at the final whistle.

With France players flat on their backs, their supporters stood to applaud Portugal for their resilience and their determination.

 

 Griezmann against missed the target when he headed over from six-yards from a Kingsley Coman cross
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Griezmann against missed the target when he headed over from six-yards from a Kingsley Coman crossCredit: EPA

 

 Moussa Sissoko lets fly from 25-yards as France attempt to break down Portugal in the Euro 2016 final in Paris
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Moussa Sissoko lets fly from 25-yards as France attempt to break down Portugal in the Euro 2016 final in ParisCredit: Reuters
 Ricardo Quaresma's acrobatic attempt flew straight at France keeper Hugo Lloris
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Ricardo Quaresma's acrobatic attempt flew straight at France keeper Hugo LlorisCredit: Reuters

 

 Andre-Pierre Gignac fires against the post in stoppage time for France
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Andre-Pierre Gignac fires against the post in stoppage time for FranceCredit: Reuters
 Gignac watches his stoppage-time shot strike the foot of the post to deny him a dramatic late winner against Portugal
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Gignac watches his stoppage-time shot strike the foot of the post to deny him a dramatic late winner against PortugalCredit: Reuters

 

 Cristiano Ronaldo tries to inspire his Portugal teammates ahead of extra-time
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Cristiano Ronaldo tries to inspire his Portugal teammates ahead of extra-timeCredit: Reuters

 

 The Portugal players rush to celebrate with Eder after his brilliant extra-time goal gave them the lead against Portugal
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The Portugal players rush to celebrate with Eder after his brilliant extra-time goal gave them the lead against PortugalCredit: Reuters

They showed class and dignity in defeat, honouring Portugal’s heroes in a way that will be remembered for an awful long time.

As for Ronnie and the rest, they can lie back on their sun loungers.

And think of England.

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