The Portuguese were extremely relieved about their opening victory. Cristiano Ronaldo was also very relieved. He knew exactly who he had to thank in particular.
At around midnight, Cristiano Ronaldo sent his fans a clear message after the nerve-wracking win at the start of the European Championship. “Until the end, Portugal,” wrote the superstar of the victorious Portuguese team on Instagram. It wasn’t much of a stretch and the title favorite would have started the European Championship with a draw against the Czech Republic.
But in the dramatic and thrilling final phase, the Portuguese made the 2-1 victory the perfect start to record holder Cristiano Ronaldo’s sixth and probably last European Championship.
The goalscorer’s father and the 2000 European Championship
There were only a few minutes between the clenched fists, the cheers of the players and fans and simple disillusionment – and it was not Ronaldo who made the decision. It was the 21-year-old and 18-year-younger Francisco Conceição, son of Sergio Conceição, who is also well-known in Germany.
Almost exactly 24 years ago, he had ensured the DFB team’s elimination after the preliminary round of the 2000 European Championship with his three goals in Portugal’s 3-0 win against Germany in Rotterdam.
“Everyone is waiting for CR7, Conceição saves Portugal,” wrote the Italian newspaper “La Gazzetta dello Sport” after Portugal’s opening victory at this European Championship. “I saw that the game was difficult. I came in and wanted to help the team score the goal. That’s what I did,” said the winning goal scorer. And for that, the Portuguese savior of the evening received a warm hug from Ronaldo.
Source: Stern
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