UEFA Euro 2016 semifinal: Portugal 2-0 Wales
Portugal is back to the Euro Final 12 years after last appareance on home soil in 2004 where they lost to Greece. It will be the second final for Portugal in a major tournament and also the second Final for Cristiano Ronaldo who already was a member of the team 12 years ago!
Cristiano Ronaldo played a pivotal role against his club-mate Gareth Bale who played very well for Wales this all tournament. He scored a magnificent goal with an impressive hang time for head the ball into the net and then assisted Nani inadvertently by missing a shot.
Ronaldo share his emotions to have a chance to win another trophy and the first with his country:
“It’s what we have dreamt of since the beginning. We knew it would be a long road and we’re still in the tournament. We have believed right from the start. We had difficult moments, but it’s like I always say: it’s better to start poorly and have a positive ending. We haven’t won anything yet, but the dream is still alive.
I hope that [after the final] we’ll be smiling and that it will be tears of joy this time. I’ve always said my dream was to win a trophy with Portugal. We’re closer to doing it and I believe that we’ll win. With a lot of work, humility and the spirit of self-sacrifice, which I have always shown in my career, these sorts of things are doable”.
Chris Coleman, Wales manager
“That first goal was crucial. The first half was tight but we never found our rhythm and momentum. We found it difficult to open the game up but credit goes to Portugal. We lost our concentration for five minutes and when you do that against a side like Portugal you’re going to get punished. Congratulations to Portugal: I hope they go on and win the final.
I’m immensely proud of the team. It’s incredible what they’ve done and how they’ve performed. If you lose and you’ve given your best, that’s how it goes. But the end of the tournament is not the end for this team – they’ll be around for a long time. It’s been a great experience. A nation is proud of them and, given time, they will be proud of themselves. I’ve loved every minute of it”.
Gareth Bale, Wales forward
“It is a difficult one to analyse now but we’re obviously disappointed. We’ve got to be proud first and foremost. We’ve given everything. We’ve tried to enjoy the experience of the tournament. We want to thank all the fans for all the support we’ve had, it’s been absolutely incredible.
We’re disappointed, naturally, but they got the first goal and were a bit lucky on the second. We tried our hardest to get back in the game. We fought until the last second and we’re sorry we couldn’t get to the final but we gave everything”
