MAGNIFICENT 7
Crocked Ronaldo makes early exit.. but helps orchestrate win from sidelines
THE sight of a weeping Ronaldo limping out of the game with a thigh injury after only 25 minutes was one that only the French supporters would have failed to have been moved by.
And, given the magnitude of the occasion, many a lesser man would have by-passed the bench and kept walking right down the tunnel to seek solace and curse his bad luck.
But not Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, Portugal’s greatest ever player and goalscorer – currently on 103 – he’s made of sterner stuff.
If he no longer could make a difference on the park, the 31-year-old, who has represented his country at every level since the age of 15, could do so off it, joining manager Fernando Santos on the sidelines to offer some animated encouragement to his teammates – especially in the moments before the start of extra-time.
Chances over the 90 minutes had been few and a far between. Favourites France failed to take advantage of Ronaldo’s absence, the game in the end being settled by a 108 minute extratime goal – Portugal substitute Eder (circled with Ronaldo) showing strength and determination to work himself into a shooting position to fire a low 25-yard shot past keeper Hugo Lloris to cue agony to ecstasy for Ronaldo... and more tears. PORTUGAL: Rui Patricio, Cedric, Pepe, Jose Fonte, Raphael Guerreiro, William Carvalho, Renato Snches, Adrien Silva, Joao Mario Nani Cristiano Ronaldo. Subs; Ricardo Quaresma, Joao Moutinho, Eder.
FRANCE: Hugo Lloris, Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscienlny, Samuel Umiti, Patrice Evra, Moussa Sissoko, Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi, Dimitri Payet, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud. Subs; Kingsley Coman, Andre-pierre Gignac, Anthony Martial, Didier Deschamps.