Are Portugal Really the European Championships’ Worst-Ever Finalists?

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: July 8, 2016

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It became apparent rather early that Euro 2016 was prime for an outsider to make a charge. It took until the latter rounds for any side to impose themselves on the competition, with the newly expanded format giving the tournament a distinctly open field. Bets were taken and tips made on which of the 24 teams in France this summer would emerge from the pack to go the distance.



Much of the group stage was spent searching the field looking for the next Greece, as has become the conventional term for a side pulling off a shock in international football. Portugal might not have been the most obvious of picks back then after finishing third in their group and only scraping through to the round of 16. But Fernando Santos’ men have taken on the mantle, reaching Sunday’s final.

Of course, Portugal are hardly rank outsiders considering their pedigree at major tournaments over the past two decades. They have made the semi-finals of three of the last four European Championships, consistently overachieving at major tournaments. They’re not quite the Greece so many were looking for, but their appearance at the Stade de France on Sunday has come as something of a surprise.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. benefited from landing in the weaker side of the tournament’s draw for the knockout rounds, but they have seen off quality sides in making it all the way to the showpiece event.

Croatia were tipped by many as contenders to win the whole thing after beating reigning European champions Spain and topping their group. Yet they couldn’t find a way past Portugal.



Poland were also widely identified as potential latter round material, with Robert Lewandowski giving his side the lead within three minutes of their quarter-final clash with Santos’ men. But Portugal had the presence of mind to gather themselves, equalise soon after and eventually find a way into the semi-finals...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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