Cristiano Ronaldo, Xherdan Shaqiri, Hal Robson-Kanu: Best goals from Euro 2016

A thundering out-of-the-blue shot by substitute Eder gave Portugal a shock 1-0 win over France in the European Championship final, delivering the country’s first international title as superstar Cristiano Ronaldo watched injured from the touchline. Following the victory, here are five of the best goals scored at the tournament: Dimitri Payet (France 2-1 Romania) [caption id=“attachment_2886718” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Dimitri Payet jubilation after scoring against Romania. Reuters[/caption] France were heading towards a dispiriting 1-1 draw against Romania in their opening match when the ball found its way to Dimitri Payet on the right-hand side of the penalty area in the 89th minute. The West Ham United playmaker took a touch to get the ball out of his feet before unleashing a left-foot rocket that flew into the top-left corner. Payet sprinted towards the touchline in disbelieving celebration and shed tears as he was substituted moments later. France’s tournament was up and running.

Eder (Portugal 1-0 France) [caption id=“attachment_2886724” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Eder celebrates after scoring a goal against France. Reuters[/caption] Portugal were accused of producing negative wins at Euro 2016 but substitute Eder killed French hopes with a stunning late strike in Sunday’s final. The Lille striker beat off a challenge from Laurent Koscielny and from 25 metres fired a shot that French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris got nowhere near. Eder has struggled to pin down a first team spot at Swansea City in the English Premier League but has had more chances in France with Lille and now with Portugal.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Hungary 3-3 Portugal) [caption id=“attachment_2886730” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring goal against Hungary. Reuters[/caption] Ridiculed for criticising Iceland after Portugal’s opening 1-1 draw and then guilty of squandering a penalty in the 0-0 draw with Austria, Ronaldo was under pressure ahead of Portugal’s final group game. But the Real Madrid megastar belatedly arrived at the party in Lyon with a brace that secured Portugal’s place in the last 16. His first goal, in the 55th minute, was a treat. Joao Mario bent a cross into the box from the right and Ronaldo met it with a fiendishly difficult half-volleyed back-heel that sent the ball rolling into the bottom-left corner.

Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland 1-1 Poland) [caption id=“attachment_2886742” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Xherdan Shaqiri scores a goal against Poland. Reuters[/caption] The tournament’s most spectacular goal arrived in the first last 16 tie in Saint-Etienne. With Switzerland a goal down in the 82nd minute, captain Stephan Lichtsteiner hoisted a cross towards the box from the left-hand flank. Partially cleared, the ball popped up on the edge of the box and Shaqiri met it with a jaw-dropping mid-air scissors kick that flew past goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski’s outstretched left hand. The Stoke City schemer found the net again in the subsequent penalty shootout, but Switzerland were eliminated.

Hal Robson-Kanu (Wales 3-1 Belgium) [caption id=“attachment_2886758” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Hal Robson-Kanu celebrates after scoring goal against Belgium. Reuters[/caption] Robson-Kanu, released by English second-tier club Reading a day earlier, provided the defining image of Wales’s astonishing run to the last four with a magnificent goal that put Chris Coleman’s side ahead in their quarter-final against Belgium. Ten minutes into the second half, Gareth Bale sent Aaron Ramsey scampering down the Wales right and the Arsenal man neatly took a touch before crossing for Robson-Kanu. The Wales number nine took a touch and then bewildered Thomas Meunier, Marouane Fellaini and Jason Denayer with a slick Cruyff turn before steering a shot past Thibaut Courtois.