Portugal coach Fernando Santos turns poet to explain Euro 2016 success

Portugal have done it! Their victory over hosts France in Saint-Denis is France last night guaranteed their first ever major tournament success, and it has been in no small part down to the careful strategising of coach Fernando Santos. However, the Lisbon native isn’t only handy with the chalkboard, but he’s also a rather good poet, at least if his description of Portugal’s success is anything to go by:

“He told me he would score when I sent him on,” said Santos, whose side won only once in 90 minutes all tournament. “The ugly duckling went and did just that. Now he’s a beautiful swan. As for Ronaldo, twice he tried to carry on but he couldn’t. [...] Anyway the way Cristiano spoke to us and reached the lads, motivating them, in the changing room and in the dugout ... he believed that tonight was going to be our night. On his behalf I’d like to thank all the players for believing. We were as simple as doves and wise as serpents. I thank them all.”

We’re not quite sure how well Éder would usually take to being described as an “ugly duckling,” but given that he’ll still be glowing after netting the winning goal in a major tournament final, we’re sure he won’t mind too much. As for that last line, what artistry!

The goal of the day could only be Éder’s well-struck winner:

Sam Allardyce, yes, Sam Allardyce, is set for an interview over the vacant England job (Guardian)

... but Arsène Wenger would reportedly consider the role, if only in the future (Eurosport)

Southampton are set to pull off a transfer coup by landing Pierre Højbjerg from Bayern Munich (BBC)

New Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti has been spouting platitudes in his official unveiling (FC Bayern)

... while the club’s sporting director Matthias Sammer has resigned from his post (FC Bayern)

Gheorghe Hagi’s son has signed for Fiorentina. Yes, you are old. (Sky Sports)

Miguel Delaney on Didier Deschamps’ tactical blundering (ESPNFC)

Jonathan Wilson praising Portugal’s pragmatism, as well as acknowledging France’s flaws (Eurosport)

Constantin Eckner’s Euro 2016 final tactical live blog (Spielverlagerung)

Please don’t take anything in this section too seriously, for your own sanity.

Manchester City are reportedly unwilling to match Juventus’ asking price for Leonardo Bonucci (ESPNFC)

Napoli are close to completing moves for Roberto Pereyra and Axel Witsel (Football Italia)

Real Madrid are bored of the idea of Paul Pogba, and are instead reportedly after N’Golo Kanté (The Sun)

Dutch striker Vincent Janssen is on the brink of a move to Tottenham Hotspur (Sky Sports)

Chelsea have an eye on Lazio’s exciting attacker Felipe Anderson (ESPNFC)

Ambitious Premier League newcomers Middlesbrough are chasing Álvaro Negredo and Neven Subotić (Evening Gazette)

Portugal won Euro 2016, duh.