Euro 2016 final: Cocky France victory bus spotted BEFORE Portugal upset host nation with shock win in Paris
Coach decorated in celebratory slogans filmed speeding towards capital before a ball had even been kicked
DESPITE being overwhelming favourites to win Euro 2016 on their home turf, France fired a blank as Portugal went on to lift the trophy at the Stade de France on Sunday evening.
It was not the result the French were expecting, with many already celebrating before the game even kicked off.
And it appears that France’s FA were also feeling rather cocky ahead of the grand finale in Paris, with a victory bus decorated in slogans and messages spotted speeding towards the capital earlier in the day.
Caught on film by motorist Henry Legrand, the big blue bus was seen hurtling along the Rennes-Anger route ahead of the final.
Sporting a grand white cockerel – the France football team’s mascot – the bus displayed some very large words including ‘CHAMPIONS D’EUROPE 2016’ and ‘MERCI’.
And while some will argue that it seems perfectly appropriate to have a victory bus on hand a day early, others might counter that perhaps France should have waited for the final whistle before planning any celebration parades.
Didier Deschamps’ men looked in good shape during the match, and their route to the trophy was made easier when Cristiano Ronaldo was forced off with an injury in the first half.
Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko looked most likely to make something happen, and Portugal were on the back foot for most of the game as Andre Gignac hit the post late on.
But it was Swansea flop Eder who had the final say as the match dragged on into extra time, with the striker firing home a sublime shot from outside the box to etch his name in the history books and deny France the use of their pre-planned bus.