new
Euro 2016 >

ON ME EDER Euro 2016: Portugal’s Eder completes glorious turnaround from zero to hero after scoring the winner against France in final

Monday, July 11, 2016 Source: Thesun.co.uk

The last time fans in the Premier League heard Eder's name, he was sat on the bench for Swansea at the start of 2016.

Fast forward six months and the 28-year-old is now a Euro 2016 winner, having scored the decisive goal in the final for Portugal against France.

The sub, who was a £5million flop at Swansea last season, belted home a 109th-minute strike to stun the hosts in Paris.

Eder, 28, failed to score in 15 games for the Swans after signing from Braga — and ironically the Welsh outfit have just sold the hitman to French side Lille.

That winner saw Cristiano Ronaldo crying for joy — two hours after he had been bawling in pain.

The Real Madrid superstar blubbed as he was carried off on a stretcher in the 25th minute with a leg injury after being crocked in a challenge with Dimitri Payet.

It was another final nightmare for Ronaldo, who was also in tears when Portugal lost the Euro 2004 showpiece to Greece.

But Ron's team-mates defended doggedly and then took their chance.

Real Madrid defender Pepe said: "There was a lot of suffering. We poured our blood, sweat and tears into this.

"It was tough as we lost our main man. We said we would win it for him and we were warriors on the pitch."

Eder revealed: "Cristiano told me I would score the winning goal. He gave me strength."

And Southampton defender Jose Fonte said: "This defies description. It could be a Hollywood movie."

France could have won it in normal time but Andre-Pierre Gignac hit a post.

Striker Antoine Griezmann said: "It is cruel but also magnificent.

"You have to learn. We were not as clinical as we were against Germany."

Coach Didier Deschamps said: "We suffered together, won together and lose together."

  • Standings
    • A
    • B
    • C
    • D
    • E
    • F
  • Top Scorers
Ranking Player Country GS (PEN)
Top 3 Teams of the Past EUROs
  • Year
  • Winners
  • Runner-up