For the actual final, it was considered Portugal vs France. The beginning minutes actually seemed to be "end to end" action. France had this player, Sissoko, who looked like he was in a video game. I had to watch slow motion replays to realize he was "nutmegging" Portugal's midfield and running mostly straight ahead.
I know that France was visually controlling the passes and the possession in the first half. They probably had more chances and forced Portugal to make save after save. The main "chance" I can picture from Portugal came from a really long "lob" pass that got through and let the forward shoot the ball.
Portugal's star player is Cristiano Ronaldo, who might be the best forward in Real Madrid (Spanish league team) history. He went knee to knee pretty early and wasn't moving right. About 22 minutes into the game, he had to be substituted out. Why would Portugal need Ronaldo to win a match, though?
In the second half, I was a little distracted by fighting cats. Portugal basically played defense, although they had a little more possession and some corner kicks. It hadn't happened yet where a European final was scoreless after 75 or more minutes (meaning no 0-0 draws in regulation, either). Somehow it happened today.
In the extra time, it was hard to remember much, either. Then came about seven or eight minutes left in the second extra time. Portugal were finally attacking, but a pass hit a PORTUGUESE player in the hand up near the penalty box. I'm not sure about whether it was intentional, but his arm was definitely extended. The most important detail was how the French center back NEVER touched the ball at all. Strangely, here comes the referee, and he shows a yellow card to the FRENCH DEFENDER! I think the Portuguese guy was named Eder, and he crossed himself, pointed up, and folded his hands, almost like he knew that was the wrong call.
So, you had a team that wasn't trying to hold the ball on the offensive side of the pitch, and now they got a free kick. That didn't go in the net, but France wasn't able to clear it completely away somehow, putting the ball back near Eder (Mr. Handball), who took about a 30 yard shot that went all the way into the net. How was that fair? France still had time to score an equalizer, but Portugal just needed to keep up their defensive tactic and run down the clock.
If you look at history going back to 2004, Portugal were hosting the tournament. They advanced to the final against Greece. I think both of them were in the same group for that stage of the competition. The only group game that Greece actually won was over Portugal, but how could they get that result twice? Was this Portuguese win in France against the host country a way to even things out?
In this specific tournament, people have talked about how Portugal wouldn't have advanced from the group phase under the format from 2012 and earlier. Then again, if they knew that, would they have played differently in some of the games? They couldn't beat Iceland, or Hungary, or Austria (who are somehow ranked #10 by FIFA). They were also undefeated, if that makes sense. They had to keep using extra time or penalty kicks to advance in the knockout phase, except for one game (2-0 over Wales - but who picked Wales as a top 4 side in Europe?).
The commentators were even saying that this was an ugly or weak tournament in terms of the games (boring or predictable). Was that because they watered it down? The format became 24 teams, and four countries that only finished third (out of four teams) in a group got to keep playing (including your "champions").
Overall, it's hard to remember good finals in global soccer in general. The 2014 World Cup went to extra time (and it was probably 0-0 in regulation). The 2012 European final was something like a 4-0 blowout by Spain. Then, in the warm up tournament in between those two (called the Confederations Cup), I think Brazil bullied Spain around 4-0 or 5-0 in that final (3-0, actually). Go back to the 2010 World Cup. Spain eventually survived the final, but the images I have were 10 or more yellow and red cards and a physical game (13 yellows, 1 red). I think that also finished 0-0, went to extra time, and then 1-0 in the extra session. There was a Confederations Cup in 2009. The USA somehow advanced. I mean, I think Brazil, Italy, and Egypt were in our group. Three teams finished with one win and two losses, based on rock/paper/scissors results (A had beaten B, who beat C, who beat A). We played Spain in the semifinals and somehow won 2-0. In the final, I think we were ahead 2-0 on Brazil, but then they dominated the second half and scored three official goals, plus one that probably would've counted on instant replay (but they hadn't been using that system yet).
I'm not sure about the 2008 Euro final. Spain obviously won (1-0 or 2-0 against Germany? [1-0 over Germany, according to Wikipedia]). In the 2006 World Cup, it was another draw (but maybe 1-1) in regulation, and the thing you remember about that wasn't the shootout. It was this guy Zidane headbutting an Italian and earning an obvious red card.
Even in the Copa America, or the version where it's usually just South American teams, I think they're on a streak of 0-0 games where it got pushed to a penalty shootout in the final match.
I guess soccer is kind of like that? This game just stood out because Portugal won that free kick on a referee mistake, and then the actual handball player somehow got a chance to shoot and score. On ESPN, there was a French commentator basically saying, "Is what Greece did in 2004 when they had no talent" (try to say it out loud in a French accent). I mean, should sports be about fair play, trying hard in every round, and winning by going on offense? I've been seeing across multiple sports where it's kind of like all that matters is one game, or how you dominate on defense:
Broncos "winning" the Super Bowl with one offensive rushing TD - and that was set up by the defense giving them amazing field position???
The Cavaliers and Warriors were tied in overall points after six games. They were tied 89-89 in the 4th quarter of game 7. Both teams kept bricking shots, until Kyrie Irving made one lucky (probably contested) 3-pointer, and that was pretty much the difference in the whole series. Who cares if the Warriors won 73 out of 82 games in the regular season? The Cavaliers won 73 TOTAL games, and they get a trophy.
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