Portugal should not have surprised anybody by how they won Euro 2016. In beating host France 1–0 after extra time, the Portuguese followed the same pragmatic approach that got them through three elimination matches.
It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective. Portugal were under no obligation to entertain.
This was a performance about defensive responsibility, teamwork, and the added motivation of winning it for Cristiano Ronaldo. It was about how to manage a winner-take-all match against technically superior opposition. In looking back at Euro 2016, this approach to tournament football will not be forgotten.
Euro 2016 will certainly also be remembered for growing to 24 teams from 16 and the success of underdog nations like Wales and Iceland. And by virtue of the tournament adopting the new format, Portugal squeaked into the elimination stage.
