Chapter 338: The Era of the Big Three

Chapter 338: The Era of the Big Three

Bruno's hat-trick creates another legend as France suffers a heartbreaking defeat!

Following the match, the Associated Press promptly published an article praising Bruno's hat-trick, the first in the 56-year history of the European Championship finals, which led Portugal to a 3-1 victory over France. This win finally earned Portugal its first major international trophy.

The AP noted that Bruno's three magnificent goals secured Portugal this prestigious continental championship. At just twenty-two years old, Bruno has already won his first European Championship. At the club level, he has also led Udinese to victories in the Europa League, Coppa Italia, Serie A, and the Champions League, achieving a personal club competition Grand Slam.

On the night of July 10, 2016, this European Championship win etched Bruno's name into European and world football history, making him one of the greatest players in Portuguese history.

The AP also mentioned that France dominated possession throughout the match, but Portugal's defense was more resolute. Their three-defensive-midfielder strategy effectively protected the goal, repeatedly thwarting France's attacks and ultimately leading to their loss.

Deschamps' team was favored to win, as they were the biggest favorites of the tournament, but they met strong resistance from Portugal in their own backyard. Bruno's hat-trick shattered the dreams of everyone on the French team.

Super Bruno Stuns France; Deschamps' Tactics Questionable

Agence France-Presse also swiftly published a commentary, stating that Bruno's outstanding performance led Portugal to victory over France. His play shocked the world and earned him the European crown.

The article highlighted Bruno's three goals and criticized the tactics of both coaches, particularly Deschamps' defense strategy against Bruno. Deschamps' targeted defense seemed complacent compared to Portugal's stringent strategy, which used three defensive midfielders to limit France's attacking space.

France did not implement any effective defensive strategies against Bruno. His three goals came from an aggressive counter-pressing in the frontline and two quick counterattacks. Had it not been for a referee's mistake or bad luck, Portugal could have led by five goals in the first half.

AFP believed that Deschamps' preparation for such a crucial final was inadequate, especially in neglecting to mark top players like Bruno. They noted that France had a player capable of marking Bruno—Leicester City's defensive midfielder, N'Golo Kante. Kante, who had shown top defensive performance over the past two seasons and was familiar with Bruno's play, could have limited his effectiveness. However, Deschamps had not used Kante since the semi-finals, contributing to France's ultimate defeat.

Reuters: France Dominates but Bruno's Hat-Trick Seals Victory

Reuters' commentary acknowledged France's dominance in possession but noted their failure to find a way to breach Portugal's solid defense. Despite efforts from stars like Giroud, Griezmann, Payet, and Pogba, they couldn't create threatening opportunities, whereas Portugal posed constant threats to France's goal.

With Ronaldo missing several chances and leaving the field early due to injury, Bruno stepped up, capitalizing on three chances to score and break France's defense. France controlled the ball throughout but played very isolated offensively, while Portugal's resilient defense nullified their attacks. Bruno's hat-trick in the first half effectively killed the suspense of the match.

United Press International: Bruno Conquers Europe

UPI praised Bruno's role in the crucial final, emphasizing that both teams entered Stade de France carrying the mission to make history. Both teams played at the highest level of European football.

France showcased their superior ball control, achieving a 68% possession rate and completely suppressing Portugal. However, Portugal's well-organized defense withstood France's relentless attacks. Bruno, from Serie A champions Udinese, shone as the game's star. Despite Ronaldo missing early chances and exiting due to injury, Bruno took the pressure in stride, scoring three brilliant counter-attack goals to secure Portugal's victory.

UPI remarked that Bruno's success heralded the end of one era and the beginning of a new one. The era of the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly was giving way to a new "Big Three" era in world football, similar to tennis. Bruno was changing the landscape of European and world football.

BBC: Analysis Program after the Match

The BBC recorded a post-match analysis program, with chief sports reporter Dan Roan discussing how France's dream of becoming the third team in history to win the European Championship three times was shattered. Led by the superstar Bruno, Portugal defeated France convincingly.

Dan Roan stated that France had controlled the game perfectly, demonstrating excellent ball control that left Portugal with few opportunities to hold onto the ball. However, Portugal did not contest possession but instead relied on a tight defensive setup to counter France's passing game.

Despite France's control, Portugal created more dangerous attacks. With a bit more luck, Bruno could have scored four goals in this match. Dan Roan noted that Portugal demonstrated a textbook performance, showing everyone another side of football and offering hope against possession-based tactics.

Roan also mentioned that Bruno was likely to leave Udinese and Serie A during the summer transfer window, with the Premier League being a probable destination. This move could be crucial for the Premier League's aim to reclaim the position of the top league.

The Sun: Bruno Dominates the Headlines

The Sun featured Bruno's goal on its front page. France's dream of winning their third European Championship was completely shattered by Portugal. For the French, it was a night of regret, as Portugal utterly crushed their hopes. Bruno emerged as the brightest star in Paris, overshadowing Pogba and Griezmann.

Germany's Kicker reported "Bruno Crushes France." The article claimed that in this thrilling match, Bruno's hat-trick single-handedly led Portugal to a decisive victory over France, leaving his rival Pogba in the shadows.

Spain's Marca headlined with "Bruno Creates a New Era." The article stated that the 3-1 scoreline fulfilled Portugal's dream, with the European Championship trophy marking the pinnacle of their history. Everyone would regard this as the most beautiful dream. Bruno demonstrated his full capability, earning thunderous applause. His hat-trick proved him to be the most decisive and dangerous player on the field.

Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport titled "European Championship Belongs to Bruno." The article highlighted how the European Championship was a fantastic triumph for Portugal. On this magical night, Bruno's historic hat-trick in the final secured his place at the forefront of Portugal's legends.

French media were disappointed. L'Equipe reported that Pogba lost out to Bruno, which was regrettable as Pogba was expected to be the victor. In an interview, Pogba admitted that losing was painful but acknowledged Portugal's strength and pointed out tactical issues that gave Bruno too much space.

French media also acknowledged that Bruno outperformed Pogba, not just with three goals but also in other aspects of the game. However, this was somewhat flattering to Pogba. In reality, compared to Bruno's stellar performance, Pogba wasn't even the best player in his own team. Despite five shots, none of Pogba's attempts hit the target, leading many Portuguese fans to joke that he was helping Portugal clear the ball.

Once Bruno's biggest rival for the European Golden Boy award, Pogba had now fallen behind on a bigger stage. Bruno, however, had ascended to a higher competitive platform, joining the ranks of Messi and Ronaldo as a football superstar.

(End of Chapter)

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