Portuguese Give Ronaldo, Others Heroes’ Reception

Portugal’s Euro 2016 heroes continued celebrating their first ever international trophy yesterday as they arrived back in Lisbon, capital and the largest city of Portugal following their dramatic 1-0 extra time victory over France.

Thousands of fans took over the streets of Lisbon waving red and green national flags to mark the historic victory set up by substitute Eder’s extra-time goal that stunned the host country on Sunday night in the final of Euro 2016.

Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo, who was stretchered off injured and crying early in the game, hugged the trophy on the special flight that took the Portuguese team home.
Two fire trucks sprayed jets of water in green and red over the plane as it taxied to the airport terminal.

Thousands of fans waited to greet the team who won Portugal’s first international trophy.
Ronaldo and Coach Fernando Santos were first to emerge with the trophy. Man-of-the-match defender Pepe carried the prize down the steps, where the 23-man squad boarded an open-top bus to start a victory parade. After meeting President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the 23-man squad were to go on a tour of the capital.
For Ronaldo, lifting silverware with his country was the icing on the cake of his already glittering career and the Real Madrid star was more than keen to show off his latest success.

The 31-year-old forward displayed the trophy to fans outside Portugal’s team hotel in Marcoussis on the outskirts of the French capital, clearly still delighted after an emotional evening.Once aboard the plane, Ronaldo posted a series of pictures to Instagram as both he and the squad continued their celebrations with the trophy.

The celebrations were the continuation of a party which is set to last for weeks and be celebrated by the whole country.

France’s disconsolate team also went to meet their country’s leader. In stark contrast, President Francois Hollande could only offer commiseration at a sombre official lunch.

An open-top bus planned for a Paris victory parade was sent back to the depot as French football chiefs started a what-went-wrong inquiry.