The Euro 2016 Final: Ronaldo-less Portugal wins, feels like a draw

As an American that loves watching the beautiful game, I feel okay with the 1-0 AET result that Portugal and France provided us on Sunday.  Do I feel great about it...no.  However, there were still aspects of the match that brought a smile to my American face.

France Falling Short

Let me make this clear: I feel bad for the PLAYERS, but not in the slightest for the French fans.  Payet was arguably the best player throughout the entire tournament, Griezmann's Golden Boot was well deserved (6 goals in 7 matches), Sissoko played like a man possessed in the final, and Paul Pogba's swag speaks for itself (if you don't believe this, we probably won't get along).  

HOWEVER, we as Americans, though far from perfect ourselves, are well aware of the stigma surrounding the French...which is mostly arrogance.  With each result going into the books, one couldn't help but feel the French fans felt this was a tournament they deserved.  France won the last major tournament they hosted (1998 World Cup), and going in as one of the favorites to win Euro 2016, no one could blame their fans for feeling like they should win this tournament.  

But my oh my do conceited trees fall hard.  Sure, if I put myself in their shoes, considering their starting XI coupled with a Portuguese side that lost Cristiano Ronaldo half way through the first half, I would've been feeling good about our chances, too.  Even though the score was 0-0 at the time Ronaldo went down, I'm sure French fans (and those with $ on France) felt this one was theirs for the taking.  So, seeing them take a kick to the stomach, compliments of Éder, was something great to see.  I mean, who doesn't enjoy seeing arrogant fans put in their place by a less than worthy opponent?

Portugal Win, no thanks to CR7

Figuring out who to root for in this match was tough.  Per my thoughts above on France, clearly I wasn't pulling for them to win.  However, how was I to convince myself that a Portuguese team featuring Cristiano Ronaldo was a team to cheer for?  I mean, the guy essentially has it all (good looks, undeniable skill, and more money than he could ever ask for), and no one loves Cristiano Ronaldo more than Cristiano Ronaldo...so pulling for Portugal was not much of a "feel good" story at all.  

Then I thought to myself, what would be the only way I'd be happy with Portugal winning the final?  The answer was easy: if Cristiano Ronaldo didn't play a huge role in the victory.  I mean seriously, what would annoy a man that loves himself so much more than his team winning their country's first major tournament victory WITHOUT him?  Like I said before, the guy pretty much has it all, so call me salty if you'd like, but I love imagining that all CR7 was thinking about was how his team didn't need him to win the final.  Sorry Cristiano, but for a guy that is so clearly "me, me, me!", but it was fantastic to see "you, you, you" not factoring into the final result.  Sure, he'll rationalize that they wouldn't have been there without his contributions, and he's probably right...but as a competitor, you know the victory doesn't feel as complete to him.  I can at least find a little happiness in that.  

Win, Lose, or Draw?

As a fan without skin in the game, even though a winner was determined, everything felt like a draw to me.  Including the result.  French fans were sad, Ronaldo was probably salty for not playing a key role in the final, which I absolutely loved, but a game ending 1-0 in extra time?  No thanks.  After 90 minutes of goalless soccer, as a fan, I want the match to go the distance...at least if the 120 minutes produces little drama, you know penalty kicks will always be exciting.  However, Éder denied us the chance at getting to that point, eliminating virtually any drama and/or excitement that still potentially remained.  Portuguese players and fans won't care, and leave Euro 2016 with a sweet taste in their mouths.  French players and fans leave with a sour taste in their mouths.  For me, I feel like I just ate a bowl of vanilla ice cream with a cup of salt poured over it.