So finally we got to the last game of Euro 2016. No World champions, Germany, no previous Euro winners Spain and no highest ranked European team in the world , Belgium either. No England too but let’s move on swiftly from that subject. Instead we had hosts France against the final new boys, Portugal.
There was however an English presence in the final, our own controversial man in black, Mark Clattenburg. Chelsea fans know him as public enemy number one as whenever he  referees their matches things seem to go horribly wrong for all involved. Witness last season’s Chelsea vs Tottenham clash when he could have sent off half the Spurs team and this game officially marked the end of Spurs title challenge. Then a few years earlier when Chelsea hosted Manchester United he wrongly sent off two Chelsea players and gifted United a late offside winner. All manner of chaos erupted as he was later accused of racism towards Mikel and kept away from refereeing for 4 weeks while inquests were held. Maybe tonight in Europe he will have better luck.
Back to the game. All suspended players were now back so both teams could play whoever they wanted. For Portugal this meant a much improved defence as both Pepe and William Carvalho returned. This however would turn out to be an extreme negative for both France and the watching fans as the game unfolded.
France were quick out of the block with four attempts in the first ten minutes and the best of these was Griezmann’s looping header which forced Rui Patricio into a great save tipping the ball over the bar. Portugal’s main contribution was Ronaldo on the deck arms flailing while complaining about a tough challenge from Payet. Then a few minutes later the two clash again and Ronaldo is down again. Yes I know it sounds like a boxing commentary but for someone so perfectly well formed and fit, Ronaldo seems to spend an awful lot of time on the floor complaining. This is possibly distracting his teammates as Portugal haven’t really got going at all yet.
Then the only Championship player on the pitch, Moussa Sissoko from Newcastle, goes on a great run and lets fly a superb shot which is deflected over the bar. Sissoko is arguably France’s best player on the night. Surely he won’t still be a championship player after tonight’s performance. Then the worst possible happening for Portugal. Ronaldo, finally has to admit defeat and goes off injured. The French must be secretly laughing inside and thinking the cup is theirs now!
However something strange happens. Portugal’s players realise they are a talented bunch even without their hero and they start to play and fight better as a team of equals. It is not pretty though as they are for the majority of the time playing very deep and defensive. Then just after the half hour mark, Sissoko with another brilliant run turns Adrien inside out and unleashes a great shot, which is turned away well by the impressive Patricio. Sissoko is on fire tonight. I don’t remember seeing much of that form last season. Newcastle fans must be furious with him now!
Portugal are starting to put a few moves together mainly through Renato Sanches. He has been one of their best players in the tournament so far. Nothing however has really troubled Lloris in the France goal as the first half comes to an end. France are winning 7-4 on attempts. Although that really counts for nothing in a stop start game.
The second half starts but that’s a bit of an exaggeration though as nothing happens for ages. The highlight of the first twenty minutes is an audacious pass by Pogba. It was a massive attempt to reach his teammate from his own penalty area to the Portuguese box but it misses by a small margin. That could have been the best assist ever in football if they had scored. It’s lucky for me I’m watching the game in a lovely tapas bar on the beach in Barcelona. I have plenty to distract me from this non classic of a final. Indeed my notes on the game take on a different direction. In the 64th minute the waiter passes me a delicious ‘Coulant’ which is a kind of death by chocolate brownie with a lovely hot chocolate sauce centre…..
Hold on back to the match, something is finally happening! Griezmann misses the best chance of the match so far. A lovely cross from Coman reaches Griezmann just a few yards out and he flicks his header just over the bar. He really should have scored though. I return to my delicious dessert as I feel the threat of another thirty minutes of this coming ever closer. Not much else to really report in the next ten minutes. There was a minor shout though for a French penalty. Two of their players are rugby tackled to the ground from a corner. However since the man in the middle is Mr Clattenburg and he sees and ignores these challenges every week in the Premier League, why change now?
With about fifteen minutes left to play both teams actually start going for a winner. Finally we have a game on and it is going from one end to another. A great low left foot drive by Giroud is saved well by Patricio. Then a few minutes later up the other end, Quaresma tries a spectacular mid air scissor kick. Lloris saves well especially since he hasn’t done much all evening. Back to France again and with one of their best players on the night Sissoko another great drive is saved well by Patricio.
Just as we are heading into extra time up steps Gignac, the French substitute. With deft control and a great turn he leaves Pepe for dead (yes I know it’s normally the other way around!). He then takes his shot from about two yards out and hits the post. So so close to a dramatic last minute winner!
Into injury time and it looks as if penalties are looming. The game seems to be fizzling out when from a Portuguese corner Eder heads down but too close to Lloris who manages to pat the ball away. A few inches either side of the goalkeeper and it would have been  a goal. Then Mr. Clattenburg who has remained fairly quiet and accurate all night gets it badly wrong. Koscielny receives a yellow card for a handball committed by Eder, the Portuguese player.
This arguably is very costly. Although the resulting brilliant free kick from Guerreiro hits the bar the following sequence of events leads to the winning goal. Whereas France should have held possession before the wrongful handball decision, Portugal now had momentum and won the ball back quickly. Eder gets the ball from his teammate and eases past Koscielny to send a great low right footer past the helpless Lloris.
France have little left to offer and as time goes by too quickly for them the final whistle is sounded. Incredibly the team who finished third in their group behind both Hungary and Iceland are the new European champions. Portugal have done it and without their star player. They can finally shrug off the critics for accusing them of being a one man team. Some may even call Ronaldo the new John Terry! As he collected the trophy without actually having contributed anything to the match!
