Portugal become European Champions - The Story of Euro 2016
European Championship 2016 - Portugal shock Europe
Heading into the European Championship in 2016, there was no doubt that Portugal possessed a strong team. They were spearheaded by one of the greatest footballers of all time in Cristiano Ronaldo. There was a great deal of talent at Portugal’s disposal and they were expected to reach the knockout stages. Despite this, very few commentators felt they were serious contenders to win the tournament and many felt that Portugal had an ageing team.
At the start of Euro 2016, Portugal were seventh favourites to win the European Championship at odds of 20/1.
Who Were the Favourites for Euro 2016?
At the start of the tournament, the clear favourites for glory were France. The French were the tournament hosts and were blessed with a golden generation of talent featuring the likes of Antoine Grizemann, Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante. The French had a huge pool of tournament and were hoping to repeat the success of 1998 when they last hosted an international tournament.
World Cup holders Germany were also tipped for European glory. They had an abundance of talent at their disposal featuring the likes of Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil and Manuel Neuer. They had also reached the last four of every major international tournament since the 2006 World Cup.
Spain possessed an immensely talented squad that cruised to glory in the European Championships back in 2012, having won the World Cup in 2010. They possessed an ageing but talented squad featuring the likes of Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Ramos. All of whom were serial winners at both club level and international level.
The Qualification Stage
Fernando Santos was appointed as Portugal manager at the start of the Euro 2016 Qualification campaign. He replaced Paulo Bento who was sacked after a poor run of form which saw Portugal crash out of the 2014 World Cup in the group stage and lose their opening Euro 2016 qualifier to Albania.
Santos enjoyed a strong start to life with the Portuguese national team and he helped guide them to seven consecutive victories in the qualification campaign. Such form meant that Portugal would finish top of the group.
Portugal in the Group Stages
Portugal were drawn in a group with Hungary, Austria and Iceland. The Portuguese were seen as the strongest team in the group and many expected them to comfortably top the group and win all three games.
In their opening game of the group stage, Portugal faced Iceland. Iceland were the smallest nation to ever qualify for the European Championship and they had a population of 330,000. It was the first time in their history that Iceland had reached a major international tournament.
Portugal were expected to make a strong start to the tournament and started the game well by taking an early lead courtesy of Nani. Portugal were pegged back by Iceland in the second half. Portugal dominated the game and had a total of 26 shots at goal in the opening game but were unable to breakdown a stubborn Iceland backline. Cristiano Ronaldo struggled to hit his best form in the opening game and pundits began to suggest Portugal were a one-man team.
In the second game it was a similar story. Cristiano Ronaldo continued his slow start to the tournament and missed a penalty against Austria. Despite being the more productive side in terms of creativity they were unable to find their way through the Austrian defence and were limited to 0-0 draw. Austria were able to keep their first clean sheet in a major tournament since 1982.
There was a great deal of pressure on Portugal as they headed into the final group game. Ronaldo appeared to be feeling the strain of not having scored at the tournament when, during a team stroll ahead of the Hungary match, he grabbed the microphone of a reporter and threw it into a river.
Portugal needed a minimum of a point to progress from the group stages and reach the last sixteen. The pressure was mounted on Portugal in the early stages of the game when veteran midfielder Zoltan Gera volleyed Hungary into a surprise lead.
It would prove an enthralling encounter and Portugal would have to come back from behind on three occasions in a thrilling 3-3 draw. Cristiano Ronaldo would play a vital role in this game and ultimately had to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Ronaldo scored twice for Portugal and also provided an assist for Nani.
The Last 16
Despite failing to win any of their opening group games the result ensured Portugal would reach the knockout stage of the European Championship by being one of the highest four third-placed teams.
Portugal were drawn to face Croatia in the Round of 16. Croatia had been impressive in the group stage and had topped Group D. Many pundits had tipped Croatia to be dark horses after an impressive 2-1 victory against European champions Spain.
The game would prove to be a turgid affair with both sides cancelling each other out. Portugal opted for a much more defensive approach in the game and had learnt from their struggles in the group stage.
The likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakatic and Ivan Peresic all failed to make their mark on the game. It was also the first time in a European Championship match that Cristiano Ronaldo failed to have a shot in ninety minutes.
A similar theme followed in extra time with neither side being able to impose their mark on the match. Croatia were subdued by a deep Portuguese defence and could not manage a single shot on target in the game. With penalties looming Portugal were able to find a breakthrough late in extra time when substitute Ricardo Quaresma scored a late header in the 117th minute of extra time.
The Quarter-Final - Portugal vs Poland
Portugal faced Poland in the Quarter Final stage. Poland had impressed in the group stage with two 1-0 victories over Northern Ireland and Ukraine. They also held Germany to a 0-0 draw. They narrowly beat Switzerland on penalties in the round of 16.
Polish talisman Robert Lewandowski gave his side an early lead after just two minutes but the Portuguese responded when teenager Renato Sanches scored an equalizer from the edge of the penalty area. In doing so he became the youngest player to score in a European Championship knockout game. At the age of 18 years and 316 days.
Portugal would go on to win the match 5-3 on penalties. In doing so Portugal became the first team to reach the last four of a European Championship without winning a single game. Remarkably Portugal had only been in the lead for 22 minutes in the entirety of the European Championship. Poland exited the tournament without trailing for a single minute of the competition.
The Semi-Final
With the final of the European Championship on the horizon, Portugal faced the tournaments surprise package Wales. Wales had reached their first major tournament since 1958 and were spearheaded by the incredible form of Real Madrid star Gareth Bale, one of Wales greatest players. In the Quarterfinals Wales produced one of the shocks of the tournament by knocking out an immensely talented Belgium team.
For the first time in the competition, Portugal were able to secure the victory in ninety minutes. Portugal comfortably won the game 2-0 courtesy of goals from former Manchester Utd teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani.
The Final - Portugal Vs France
Portugal would enter the European Championship final for the second time in their history. They were desperate to win their first-ever international tournament and make amends for their defeat to Greece in the Euro 2004 final.
However, Fernando Santo’s side would face an incredibly difficult task against the hosts France. France were heavily tipped for glory at the start of the tournament and were in formidable form heading into the European Championship final. The form of Antoine Grizemann was crucial to France’s success and he was the tournaments top scorer with six goals.
Euro 2016 Final - Highlights
Portugal had been heavily reliant on three-time Balon D’or winner Cristiano Ronaldo throughout the tournament. Ronaldo was carried off in tears in the 25th minute at Paris' Stade de France, eighteen minutes after injuring his knee in a clash with France's Dimitri Payet.
This was a huge blow in the game. However, the firm favourites France were unable to capitalize on Ronaldo’s absence. With goalkeeper Rui Patricio heroic and defenders Pepe and Jose Fonte outstanding, they frustrated France, growing in threat and strength as the final went on.
With the game gridlocked after 90 minutes, the game would head to extra time. In doing so Portugal became the first team to go to extra time three times in the same tournament.
Portugal had grown into the game during the extra time period. Raphael Guerreiro hit the bar with a free kick for Portugal after 108 minutes. Moments later substitute Eder would write his way into Portuguese folklore with an excellent low driven shot from 25 yards out.
Captain Ronaldo was up on his feet barking orders at his team next to manager Fernando Santos in the chaotic closing moments of the game. The resolute Portugal defence held on in the closing moment and secured European Championship glory.
Reaction
The victory in Euro 2016 will undoubtedly go down as the greatest achievement in the history of the Portuguese national team. It was their first-ever victory in a major tournament.
Portugal did receive criticism for the way they approached the tournament and the fact that they won just one game in ninety minutes.
However, Portugal showed immense team spirit and endeavour throughout the tournament. On many occasions, Santo’s team had to come back from adversity in games. Against Hungary, they had to come back from behind on three occasions to make it out of the group stage. Against Poland, they had to come back from an early setback. In the final Portugal also had to dig deep and prove their quality with the absence of star man Cristiano Ronaldo.
Fernando Santo’s sides also adapted throughout the tournament. Their defence was leaky in the group stages as they conceded four goals in the opening three games. However, in the knockout stages his side adapted their approach and became incredibly difficult to breakdown. In the knockout stages of the tournament Portugal conceded just one goal in 450 minutes of football.
Four Portugal players were awarded with a place in the team of the tournament these included: goalkeeper Rui Patricio, Pepe, Raphaël Guerreiro and captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
