Portugal coach Santos praises Eder's performance

Coach Fernando Santos said the "ugly duckling has become beautiful" after Eder, jeered by Portugal fans during a game in March, fired in a long-range goal 11 minutes from the end of extra-time to give Portugal an unexpected 1-0 win.

This has been a cagey tournament punctuated by moments of magic and it came to a fitting end at the Stade de France, where the main talking point of the opening 90 minutes was the injury that brought the Portuguese captain's night to a premature end.

Cristiano Ronaldo has dominated the Portuguese team for the last decade but, after the three-times world player of the year limped off injured, but Portugal proved they are more than a one-man team.

Eder played 13 games for English Premier League Swansea City without scoring a goal last season before being loaned to French club Lille.

"I felt that Fernando Santos knows about my qualities ever since the day the squad was named," Eder told reporters. "He put his confidence in me and today, I paid him back. I'm very happy."

His presence in the 23-man squad was in doubt until the very last minute and his goal on Sunday was only his fourth in 29 international appearances.

Eder is one of five members of the Portuguese squad who were born outside Europe along with Danilo (Guinea Bissau), Pepe (Brazil), Nani (Cape Verde) and William Carvalho (Angola).

Full name Ederzito Antonio Macedo Lopes, he has never played for any of the big three clubs in his homeland. After starting his career with third tier side Tourizense, he moved on to Academica Coimbra for four seasons before spending three seasons with slightly less unfashionable Braga.

He made his international debut against Azerbaijan in 2014 but since then has only been a fringe player. Eder was brought on the 79th minute of Sunday's game after Santos decided he needed a more physical presence in attack.

"I understood that Eder was the player who had to come on to hold up the ball in attack and create problems for France in the air," Santos said.

"When he went on, he said he would score the goal, and he did. He deserves congratulations. The ugly duckling turned into a beautiful one."

"I've always said we're a team," coach Santos said, having been applauded into the press conference. "I never hide my thoughts - I always tell my players what's on my mind.

"I've always told them we've got great talent but we need to fight more than our opponents, run more than them and be more concentrated than them.

"We have an amazing group. They've always believed what I told them: that we could win this."

It is a feat made all the more impressive given they kicked on without star turn Ronaldo, injured in a challenge by Dimitri Payet during the early exchanges.

Portugal's captain and talisman may not have been on the field, but still acted as an inspiration to his team-mates on a historic night.

"Our skipper put in an immense effort," Santos said. "He has amazing team spirit.

"Twice he tried to get back on the pitch but him being there in the dressing room and on the bench was very important for us. He believed - just like myself - that tonight was our night."