Portugal are champions of Europe and they defeated hosts, France in a dramatic final at Stade de France on Sunday night to do so.

The night started badly for the Portuguese as they lost their gallant captain Cristiano Ronaldo – who had almost single-handedly dragged them to the final –  to injury eight minutes into the game after a heavy collision with Dimitri Payet.

Seeing this, France looked to capitalise on the departure of their charismatic captain and goal-scoring machine. It started with Moussa Sissoko whose shot was saved by Rui Patricio.

Rui Patrício had earlier kept out the tournament’s top talisman Antoine Griezmann‘s brilliant header.

Portugal felt the heat at the beginning of proceedings as they could hardly muster up passes out of their own half.

Kingsley Coman was then introduced by Didier Deschamps to replace Dimitri Payet around the 60th minute. The Bayern player soon influenced the game when he provided a near-perfect goal-scoring opportunity for Griezmann only for the Atletico man who was unmarked to head it over.

Olivier Giroud also tried his luck in front of goal but Rui Patricio was having an outstanding day in goal as he kept out the Arsenal forward’s low effort. He was also in action when he saved Sissoko’s thumping strike later.

Substitute André-Pierre Gignac would have sneaked in a winner in the dying minutes of the game for Les Blues, only for him to watch his ball hit the post.

Hugo Lloris who had not really been worked by Portugal in the two halves of the game was called into action in extra time as he punched away Nani’s miscued cross.

Portugal seemingly grew in confidence in extra time as they tested Hugo Llrois more often and it paid off in the 109th minute as Eder fired in a stunning goal.

The game ended 1-0 on the night with Portugal enjoying their first major cup triumph.

Oreoluwa Peters