Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) and Portugal's forward Eder take a selfie as they arrive to receive their medals after the Euro 2016 final football match between Portugal and France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on July 10, 2016.
PHOTO: AFP
PARIS: Euro 2016 winning goal-scorer Eder praised captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who according to him predicted that he will score the deciding goal which eventually helped Portugal win their first ever major trophy as they beat hosts France 1-0 at Stade de France in Paris on Sunay.
"He told me I was going to score the winning goal," said Eder, who plays for French side Lille and only went on in the 79th minute. "He gave me strength and positive energy."
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Victory also gave Ronaldo energy. He danced past reporters with other Portugal players as they left the stadium.
"Cristiano is fundamental to us," said Santos. "It would be utopian to not use Ronaldo and all his added value.
"Cristiano could score at any moment and sort everything out on his own but I always said we are a team -- we win as a team."
We won it for Ronaldo, says Pepe
PHOTO: AFPPortugal's man of the match Pepe said that his team had been inspired to beat France in Sunday's Euro 2016 final after talisman Cristiano Ronaldo was forced off by injury.
Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo was stretchered off to a standing ovation in the 25th minute at Stade de France after jarring his knee in a challenge by Dimitri Payet.
Euro 2016: Eder stunner hands Portugal first ever European title
But he returned to the touchline in extra time to see substitute Eder net an 109th-minute goal that earned Portugal a 1-0 victory and a first major tournament success.
"It was tough to lose our main man, the man who could score a goal at any moment," said Pepe, who overcame a thigh injury to play at Stade de France.
"He could make the difference, but we were warriors on the pitch. We said we would win it for him and we managed to do that."
Portugal rode their luck at times, notably when France substitute Andre-Pierre Gignac hit the post in stoppage time, but hit the woodwork themselves in extra-time through Raphael Guerreiro's free-kick.
"There was a lot of suffering. It was a very intense game," added Pepe, who won the Champions League alongside Ronaldo with Madrid in May.
"We fought very hard. We had to work very hard and be more humble than the other team. We left it all out there. It's the only way to win.
"We represented Portugal, a beautiful country of immigrants, and we represent every one of them. This goes out to them."
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