5 things we learned as Portugal beat France to win the EURO 2016 final

Portugal were crowned as the 2016 European champions on Sunday night as Eder’s extra time goal saw them beat the hosts France 1-0 in Paris.

Here is five things we learned as the Portuguese won Euro 2016, despite winning just one match in 90 minutes over the course of the competition.

1. Eder was the very, very, very unlikely hero

When Cristiano Ronaldo went off injured in the first half, it looked to be the end of Portugal’s hopes of winning Euro 2016. However, that injury allowed opportunities for others, and it was Eder, a Swansea City reject who had barely featured during the tournament, who came on to play in the striker’s position in the second half.

Incredibly, he then netted his first competitive goal for his country with a stunning 25-yard strike in the second half of extra time, winning the first major tournament in his nation’s history as a result. What a moment.

2. The final suffered from the injury to Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal reacts as he is taken off on a stretcher. Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

When Dimitri Payet clattered into Ronaldo in the early stages, and the Real Madrid star was forced to go off minutes later in tears, it seemed to affect everyone on the pitch, and in the stands.

The loss of one of the best players in the world certainly didn’t help the game as a spectacle, but even though he might not be the most popular player at times, no one could have failed to be slightly moved to see him in tears, and it was great to see the excitement and emotions on his face as his Portugal teammates won it without his presence on the field.

However, he was still visible on the sidelines and what we did see was that Ronaldo could be a very good manager in the future…

3. Paul Pogba isn’t worth £100 million

The Juventus midfielder continues to be heavily linked with a £100 million move to Manchester United, but judging by his performance in Paris, he isn’t worth anything near that.

He was largely anonymous throughout and was overshadowed by Moussa Sissoko, who is part of a team that has just been relegated from the Premier League.

It seems to be a deal that is likely to happen this summer, but United fans, and Jose Mourinho, will demand more from Pogba than he showed in the Stade de France on Sunday night.

4. Moussa Sissoko won’t be playing in the Championship next season on this display 

Moussa Sissoko was arguably France’s best player in the Euro 2016 final. Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Certainly in the first half, Moussa Sissoko was the best player on the pitch and his nation’s biggest attacking threat, and he currently plays for a Championship club.

Newcastle United will do well to hold onto him on this performance, and it may well have raised his price tag a little more, with a number of Premier League clubs already linked with the midfielder, including Arsenal and Liverpool.

Toon Army fans will question why they didn’t see more consistent performances from the midfielder over the past few years, but he is certain to be on his way out of St James’ Park this summer.

5. The moth invasion was the second most exciting thing about the final

The Stade de France was swarmed by an infestation of moths prior to the Euro 2016 kick off after the floodlights were left on overnight, and they turned out to be the most interesting thing about the final – until Eder’s goal that is.

One lucky moth even landed on Cristiano Ronaldo when he was sat down on the pitch and in tears and, shortly after, had its own Twitter parody account. Well, it’s to be expected nowadays, isn’t it?