Portugal beats Wales 2-0 to reach European Championship final

Portugal head into Sunday’s Euro 2016 final after another disciplined performance, proving again in their 2-0 win over Wales that they perform like a well-rehearsed orchestra rather than a solo act.

Chris Coleman’s side surpassed the wildest expectations of their supporters and became one of the surprise packages of the tournament following a dominating 3-1 win against Belgium in Lille in the quarter-finals. They couldn’t give any more.

“Portugal have done what we have to do, without worrying whether we have been pretty or ugly but instead worrying about whether we have been good or bad”. “They defended deep and killed our space”.

Ronaldo had seen enough, thumping in a header – his record-equalling ninth finals goal – then cracking in a low drive that Nani diverted in.

Coleman admitted that Wales had failed to respond to the blow of conceding first.

Wales kept their opponents quiet in the first half but could not recover the two-goal deficit, ending a scintillating run that has captivated millions back home and turned their players into heroes.

“Portugal were criticised for the way they played and their style of play and, this that and the other, but if you get to a semi-final, you have to have something about you”, he said.

“We’ve done plenty of winning. It would be ludicrous of me to criticise any one of them”, Coleman added.

The absence of attacking midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who was suspended on Wednesday, was keenly felt.

It was telling that when they needed to chase the game, the Welsh could only throw on a striker from the third tier of English football – Simon Church. “But it is about the squad”.

“We were a little bit exhausted tonight”. We won’t change what got us here in the first place.

His dad Ellis Wyn Roberts from Anglesey posted on Facebook: “Would appreciate it very much, as we, as Osian’s parents, can’t get to Cardiff tomorrow, although we have been invited, sorry Osian”.

“We are massively disappointed obviously but we have given everything on and off the pitch”, said Wales talisman Bale. We’re a proud bunch and we’ll stick together and lift the spirits and go again.

“Come the World Cup qualifiers, which are not too far away, we’ll be raring to go”.

“This is not the end for this group”. But I’ve told the players this isn’t the end.

“We’ve come through some huge challenges and when we look back, it is great experience”. We’re going to go into the next campaign with a lot of hunger.

“The nation’s proud of the players”, he said.

“We wish we could have done it for them and we’d like to thank all the fans at home and all the ones who have travelled out and behaved themselves”.

“We know we aren’t the best in the world, but we also know that it will be hard for anyone to beat us”.