So, after exactly a month Euro 2016 has come to an end.
It has been a mixed bag of a tournament in general but there have been highlights of course. Wales reaching the semi-finals was great for the nation and a team who must still be troubled by the sad circumstances of Gary Speed's death back in 2011. The Iceland team proved that you don't have to be a professional footballer to make an impact at a professional football tournament, and that clap thing is great too.
But after 50 games it was Portugal who lifted the trophy.
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The game had barely got into its rhythm when Cristiano Ronaldo picked up an injury after clashing with Dimitri Payet. Ronaldo tried to play on with the injury to his knee but after 25 minutes he signaled to the bench that he could not continue. A huge shame for the 31-year-old who may not get another chance with his national team.
Credit: PA
With Portugal's main goal threat off the pitch it somewhat blunted the side's attacking prowess. Although things weren't much better for France. As with many games in this tournament, preciously little happened for the first 45 minutes.
In fact nothing happened for an entire hour as it started to look as if Portugal would choose the long route and chance penalties rather than taking any needless risks.
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After a truly uninspiring 90 minutes we were treated with another 30 of the same. 20 Minutes in though, Portugal scored a belter courtesy of Eder.
Heartbreak for France who really should have been able to outplay a truly average Portugese side. But with the way Portugal scraped through nearly every game and how France failed to turn them over, it always felt like it might happen.
Credit: PA
In the end it was probably a fitting end to a tournament that hardly lit the world alight.
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As ever, social media was buzzing throughout the game and was arguably more entertaining than the match itself:
Well done to Portugal.
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Words by Matthew Cooper
Lead Image Credit: PA
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Euro 2016, Final, Portugal, France
