AN extra-time goal from Eder saw Portugal recover from losing Cristiano Ronaldo to injury to beat France 1-0 Sunday at the final of Euro 2016.

    Just as the final looked destined for a penalty shootout, Eder cut through the French defense and struck a low shot from 25 meters past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the 109th minute at the Stade de France to securing Portugal’s first soccer title.

    Twelve years after losing to Greece on home soil in their last appearance in the final, it was Portugal’s turn to spoil the host nation’s party. And they achieved it after winning only one of their seven games at Euro 2016 inside 90 minutes, and after losing the inspirational Ronaldo midway through the first half.

    It was a mostly dull and stodgy final but the record books will only show that Portugal went from third-place in its group to champion, and with little help from Ronaldo in its last match.

    European soccer’s biggest game lost its biggest name after 25 minutes of a cagey final on the outskirts of the French capital.

    “Today I had bad luck because I had a small injury in the beginning of the teams, but my colleagues did their part — they run, they fight … nobody believed in Portugal but we won,” Ronaldo said.

    France forward Antoine Griezmann, the tournament’s leading scorer, couldn’t rise to the big occasion. There was no seventh goal of Euro 2016 from the Atletico Madrid forward, who also lost out in the Champions League final six weeks ago to Ronaldo’s Real Madrid.

    Griezmann was the first player to find the target, but his header was tipped over by Rui Patricio, who was formidable in the Portugal goal. When an inviting cross from Kingsley Coman was delivered in the 66th, Griezmann missed with a free header.

    Only once was Patricio beaten, when Andre-Pierre Gignac’s shot hit the inside of the post but it came back out.

    Luck was on Portugal’s side, and Eder was able to strike the decisive blow.

    For the unheralded striker, who plays in France for Lille, it was only his fourth goal in 29 appearances for Portugal.

    The energy didn’t seem to be going Portugal’s way in the ninth minute when Dimitri Payet’s right knee clattered into Ronaldo’s standing left leg.

    Ronaldo went down in agony. He was able to return, but this was one injury he could not run off.

    Ronaldo fell to the turf again in the 17th. Teammates tried to help in vain to help, with Nani tending to the knee.

    Ronaldo watched the game forlornly on the touchline as strapping was attached before dragging himself back onto the field.

    But Ronaldo’s mobility was restricted. Battling through the pain, regularly reaching down to check on the injury, Ronaldo realized there would be no miracle recovery.

    The clock hit 23 minutes and Ronaldo ripped off his captain’s armband and tossed it on the turf. Slumping to the ground again, Ronaldo was consoled by Nani, who embraced his former Manchester United teammate as the armband was transferred.

    The stretcher came on and in the 25th minute Ronaldo became a spectator. But thanks to Patricio’s array of saves and dogged defending, Ronaldo left a champion.

    Ronaldo was the last to climb the steps up to the VIP area to collect the trophy from Angel Maria Villar, who has assumed UEFA’s presidential duties since Michel Platini was banned from soccer.

    Unlike his great rival Lionel Messi, the Argentina and Barcelona forward, the 31-year-old Ronaldo has now filled the medal void on the major international stage.

    “It’s something unbelievable in my career, something I deserve,” Ronaldo said.(SD-Agencies)