Portugal stuns host France to win cup despite Ronaldo injury

Thousands of fans greeted Euro 2016 champions Portugal as they landed in Lisbon on Monday, chanting the name of goal hero Eder, whose extra-time screamer sealed the 1-0 victory over France.

Led by star forward Ronaldo and a rejuvenated Luis Nani, they edged past Croatia, Poland and Wales to set up a final showdown with the hosts.

The 25-year-old was the tournament’s top scorer with six goals – more than any player at one European Championship since Michel Platini hit nine in France’s 1984-winning campaign on home soil. “For me this is an incredible unique moment for all Portuguese”.

Up against a French team with a whole nation behind them, Portugal healed their own soccer wound from a shock they suffered twelve years ago.

Ronaldo went down under Dimitri Payet’s ninth-minute challenge and was twice forced off to receive treatment on the touchline.

Ronaldo, the team’s world-famous captain who was taken off in the first half of the match with a knee injury, also cited how he had asked God for a second chance after Portugal lost to Greece in the 2004 final. “I am not going to think about myself”.

“For all the work we did, for all of the Portuguese, it’s fantastic”. That just made their Euro 2016 Final win more glorious.

“I understood that Eder was the player who had to come on to hold up the ball in attack and create problems for France in the air”, Santos said. “I will commemorate them with the Order of Merit of Commanders – that is a decree that has never been given to the national team”, he told broadcaster RTP.