Lisbon goes delirious after Portugal wins first Euro championship
Lisbon, July 11 (IANS) Ten of thousands of Portuguese crowded the Marques de Pombal Square throughout the night to celebrate the country’s first European football championship, 12 years after suffering the Euro 2004 final loss against Greece on home soil.
Passionate fans chanted “Portugal Allez” (Go Portugal), on Sunday night sang the Portuguese national anthem and emulated Ronaldo’s characteristic “siiuhh” when he won his third Ballon d’Or in 2014, reports Efe.
Following the 1-0 victory against hosts France at the Stade de France in Paris, thanks to Guinea-Bissau-born Eder’s extra-time winner in the 109th minute, thousands of supporters marched from Terreiro de Paco Square where they watched the match on a giant screen to the Marques de Pombal Square.
The site, located in the business district of Lisbon, is the meeting point for the celebrations of the two biggest soccer clubs in Lisbon, Benfica and Sporting.
The streets adjacent to the square were closed to traffic while hundreds of drivers in celebration honked their horns incessantly on those roads which remained open.
In the remaining Portuguese cities, the euphoria was also present such as in the Avenida dos Aliados in Porto.
In total, there were more than twenty giant screens in other Portuguese cities for fans to watch the final against France.