itsbeautifuloutside

Match Report

IBO Reporter : Spot51

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It happened on Saturday 25th August. Drew and I sat down to watch the 3rd knockout game of the day, looking forward to watching Croatia who’d been by far the best side in the Group Stages at Euro 2016. They were facing Portugal who’d stumbled through, 3rd in Group F and probably looking at the wrong end of a stuffing.

Then the teams were announced. Coach Santos had dropped 2 of his poor defenders and brought in both Southampton lads. Fonte and Cedric were starting. “We’d better support Portugal then” says I – and we did: all the way to the Stade De France and the final against the French hosts.

Portugal were underdogs in the eyes of all pundits, but some of the stats made a case for them. Despite having lost their last 10 games against France, they had won 34 matches at Euro finals – more than any other nation without lifting the trophy. More significantly, in 13 matches under Santos, Portugal were unbeaten. France were playing in their 5th major final having won 3 of them but, should this game go all the way, Portugal have a significantly better record in penalty shootouts.

It was a warm, dry evening in Paris – good for moths apparently. Portugal, in red, kicked off and the early minutes saw both sides rushing about, turning over possession. On 4 m Les Bleus played a ball up to Giroud but, not for the last time, Pepe calmly headed back to his keeper. The ball was played straight down the park, found Nani but his shot sailed over.

A defensive cock-up then gave Sissoko a shooting chance but he skied his shot horribly. Next Griezmann got down the left before shooting wide of the near post.

On 8m, a forwards’ tackle by Payet saw Ronaldo go down, causing the medics to treat him on the pitch. With their captain struggling, a slip by Pepe let in Payet. His cross from the left was met by Griezmann whose powerful header was tipped over by Patricio. Giroud rose to meet the corner but Patricio saved again.

Ronaldo went down on 17m and left the pitch for further treatment. Portugal kept the ball very well until he returned with his knee heavily strapped. On 22m a run through the heart of Portugal’s defence by Sissoko gained a corner as his shot deflected wide. Patricio calmly claimed the corner.

On 24m Ronaldo went over while challenging Koscielny. The ball fell to Silva who shot wide but CR7 could not continue. He was stretchered off and Santos sent on Quaresma in his place. Nani took the armband and Portugal settled into a very obvious 4-5-1.

Portugal actually started playing the ball around nicely and their possession stats must have improved. Cedric got forward down the right and picked out Mario, but Lloris was able to gather his header.

On 29m France mounted a series of attacks. Sagna’s cross was headed away but recovered by Sissoko. He burst into the box but the ball went out for a corner. The ball arrived with Pogba but his run was ended by Cedric’s firm tackle. Then Giroud played in Griezmann who was thwarted by Fonte, allowing Patricio to gather. France’s next attack saw Sagna break into the box but the imperious Fonte guided him out of play.

On 34m a great passing move by the French enabled Sissoko to shoot but Patricio saved. Then Cedric was carded for booting Payet in the air but Patricio again rose and grabbed the free kick above everyone else.

Portugal had their moments, forcing Lloris to head the ball out. Then Sanches showed lovely skills to break through midfield and win a corner. Mario’s cross reached Fonte but Saints’ skipper headed over. At the other end Fonte and Pepe were keeping Giroud quiet and Patricio was catching anything that got past them.

Guerreiro was getting forward on the left but twice his over-hit passes ran out of play. Fonte stopped Griezmann in his tracks as two added minutes were signalled. Much of this time saw Evra and Quaresma being treated after a clash of heads. Then Mario got down the left but put his cross beyond Nani before Clattenburg’s whistle blew for half-time: 0-0.

There were no more substitutions and the game carried on much the same. Both sides got forward; first a Cedric cross went too long, then a deliberate French build up was thwarted by Pepe’s magnificent tackle. On 52m a Sissoko cross was turned behind by Pepe. Griezmann’s corner was collected by Patricio at the 2nd attempt. The next French attack saw Payet’s cross knocked away but Pogba collected the ball and shot over the bar.

On 56m a nice Portuguese move enabled Mario to cross. The ball was put behind by a defender and the corner was cleared. Cedric was rewarded for his good work when France withdrew Payet, bringing on Coman instead. He was soon involved, helping Griezmann into the box but his cross shot was saved by the excellent Patricio.

On 62m Giroud came deep to carry the ball out. He was tripped by Mario who was yellow-carded. France stepped up a gear and Evra won a corner off Cedric. Portugal were standing firm but on 66m should have gone behind. Coman’s super cross reached Griezmann but the competition’s top scorer conspired to put his header over the bar.

Portugal made another change bringing on Moutinho for Silva but France continued to have the upper hand. Griezmann’s pass found Coman but the winger shot well wide. Portugal were happy to retain the ball when they could. They made occasional forays upfield but with 20m left had still not managed a shot on target. At the other end, Giroud was getting little joy from Pepe and Fonte. He finally got a chance, set up by Coman on 75m, but Patricio saved his shot.

Portugal had a short period in the France half but were unable to fashion a chance. Coman then tried to set up Griesmann but Fonte intercepted. Soon after, France replaced Giroud with Cignac. Portugal withdrew Sanches bringing on Eder who went up front allowing Nani to take up a wide position.

On 80m Lloris was finally obliged to make a couple of saves. The first was from a mis-directed Nani cross that was creeping under the bar. Lloris pushed the ball out and Quaresma met it with a bicycle kick that the keeper was happy to grab. Portugal were suddenly looking as though they might score: Moutinho played in Nani but his shot flew high.

For most of the evening, Portugal’s fans had made plenty of noise but, as the game entered the final 10m, the home fans began to try to lift their side for a final effort. Sissoko responded with a long range shot which the keeper turned away. The ball was played back in where Sissoko headed goalwards but again Sporting’s keeper was in the way. Sissoko needed treatment and the other players declared an unofficial drinks break.

France continued to press forward but were unable to break the Portuguese resistance. Then, in the 3m added-on, the ball was played into Cignac. The big striker turned a hit a low shot past Fonte and Patricio. It struck the foot of the post and bounced to safety. Moments later Clattenburg called time: 0-0.

France restarted on the front foot but on 93m Eder was fouled allowing Quaresma to put the ball into the box. Pepe met it, and missed, but the offside flag was up. Shortly afterwards Guerreiro was booked for fouling Sissoko as was Matuidi for a foul on Eder. Moments later Clattenburg was booking William for a trip on Coman.

The football was starting to become desperate – both sides made simple errors before France won a couple of corners, neither of which did any harm. On 103m Portugal won a corner. Clattenburg had to lay down the law on grappling in the box. When Quaresma eventually crossed the ball Eder met it but Lloris saved. The first period of Extra Time ended with the score still 0-0.

Both teams went into huddles with Deschamps addressing the French. Santos looked on as Ronaldo rallied his troops. He made a point of speaking to everyone still on the pitch. It was indicative of how much he needed this win.

As the final period began it was Portugal who looked fresher and France were forced to defend. Moutinho won a free kick for a high boot but his ball into the box was too high for Fonte. On 107m Koscielny’s handball gave Portugal a shooting chance. It looked as if Quaresma would take it but instead Guerreiro struck a lovely curling ball which bounced off the cross bar and away.

Two minutes later the deadlock was finally broken. The industrious Moutinho found Eder who shrugged off the attentions of Koscielny. Looking up, the forward fancied a shot from distance and hit the ball hard and low and past the dive of Lloris. Portugal and their fans went berserk.

Deschamps immediately replaced Sissoko with Martial but time was fast running out. They attacked down the left but Rui Patricio came out and caught the cross to cheers of delight from Portugal’s fans. Now when Porrtugal got the ball they slowed the game down frustrating their opponents. On 115m Pogba was carded for fouling Mario.

Martial then tried to run by Cedric but the Saints man saw him off. Guerreiro went down needing treatment and Clattenburg made him leave the field. While the game went on Ronaldo ushered his team mate back onto the pitch. Unable to run, the full-back took up a position in the middle of the park.

Portugal used time cleverly and in the final minute Quaresma and Mario won a corner. Two added minutes were signalled as Eder shielded the ball, drew a foul and let the clock count down. Suddenly France broke away but in their haste someone strayed offside and the flag went up. Rui Patricio took so long taking the free kick he too was noted in Mr Clattenburg’s book.

The final whistle was blown. Players from both sides dropped to the ground as Portugal’s substitutes rushed onto the pitch. Ronaldo was beside himself with joy. However he might have imagined this match going, he could never have expected to be a spectator for over 90 minutes.

The French trudged up the steps to collect their loser’s medals. Then Santos led his men up to collect theirs. At the rear, Ronaldo dragged his injured knee up to get his medal. He then lifted the trophy, confetti and fireworks filled the night sky and Portugal celebrated a long-awaited triumph. French supporters stayed to watch. I can’t imagine England fans doing that.

I was so proud of our guys. Cedric, with his background at Sporting and Portuguese caps at every age level, was already a full international when he came to Southampton. He might reasonably have expected to be involved with this Euro 2016 squad.

For Jose Fonte life was never so easy. He took major gambles coming to the UK on loan and again joining Saints in League 1. That was six years ago. Since then his career trajectory has been nothing short of astonishing. It was great to see him with his winners’ medal and that large trophy. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke!

Possession

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• Portugal 44%
• France 56%

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Shots

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• Portugal 10
• France18

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Shots on Target

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• Portugal 3
• France 7

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Corners

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• Portugal 5
• France 9

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Fouls

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• Portugal 12
• France 13

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