Portugal v Wales Match Report. Cristiano Ronaldo was instrumental as Portugal reached the Euro 2016 final. Full table. Contact Us. Portugal vs France, Euro 2016 Final. Cristiano Ronaldo was part of Euro 2004 final which Portugal lost against Greece. The Indian Express. Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal finally show off flair in semifinal win vs Wales. LYON, France Three quick thoughts from Portugals 2 0 win over Wales in the Euro 2. POR-GRE_2004-07-04.svg/300px-POR-GRE_2004-07-04.svg.png' alt='Greece Vs Portugal Euro 2004 Final Full Match' title='Greece Vs Portugal Euro 2004 Final Full Match' />Portugal and Ronaldo prevail. It was billed as a battle between Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale and, while Bale faded from the contest, Lyon brought a glimpse of the qualities that have made Ronaldo the best European player of this football era. Portugal are in the final for the first time since 2. Ronaldo sobbed after Greeces victory. Twelve years later, he was ruthless, first in powering home a bullet header and then in supplying the assist for Nanis goal, deflected in from close range. Those two strikes in the 5. Wales resolve. For Wales, there would be no repeat of the miracle of Lille, the 3 1 defeat of Belgium that took the imagination like no other match at these championships. The streets of Lyon had reverberated with Welshmen singing that they didnt want to go home. But Wales is where their team will return to via their headquarters in Dinard, Brittany, a town that will never forget them. Along with Iceland, they will be recalled as Euro 2. Despite the deflation suffered in the semi, Wales had equalled the best tournament performance of any British team since England won the World Cup in 1. A cannier, more experienced opponent ended the dream, and there is no disgrace in that. In the first half, Wales level of danger increased whenever Bale touched the ball, though it would not be quite enough. Manager Chris Coleman had given him licence to roam wherever he felt could do most damage. It was Bales zest that won the 2. Joe Ledley executed a training ground routine, passing it to an unmarked Bale on the the edge of the area. Bale could not twist his body around enough to hit the target that time but his running in open space a minute later forced a first save from Rui Patricio after bursting through. At that point, Portugal were rocking, but the counter was always their best hope of success, with Renato Sanches injection of raw pace a distinct worry whenever his team were on the break. Ronaldo, whose uncomfortable gait suggested a possible injury, was a negligible presence yet still had the best chance of the first half, when he headed an Adrien Silva delivery just wide. It would serve as warning for what would follow immediately after the break. Those first half moments when Bale was at the epicentre were as good as it got for the Welsh. Once Portugal were ahead, he could not raise himself or his team. Instead, Ronaldo ran rampant. Portugal show off flair at last. Portugal coach Fernando Santos had said that criticism of his teams style of play was music to my ears. Previous to Wales, they had been ahead of their opponents for just 2. This was a team revelling in being the tournaments bad guys with Ronaldo as its scowling leader. By the end, though, he had a beatific grin on his face. The loss of Pepe to a thigh injury had lessened the villainy count though replacement Bruno Alves is no slouch in that department, having been sent off last month at Wembley for karate kicking Englands Harry Kane full in the face. And Alves provided a decent facsimile of Pepes often overlooked quality of defending in holding the likes of Bale and Hal Robson Kanu at bay. After being held in check in the first half, Cristiano Ronaldo took over the game in the second en route to Portugals 2 0 win over Wales. Ronaldo had continued his Mr Angry act from the early stages by smashing the turf in rage when what looked an overly forceful Ashley Williams tackle was not punished. He was even less amused when James Collins grappled him as they competed for a Cedric cross. Collins would be his most frequent companion while Portugal repeatedly tried the aerial route that would eventually bring success. Once Ronaldo had scored, and had celebrated in hip thrusting style, that fog of discontentment around him was lifted. DZTfx59y3Sk/hqdefault.jpg' alt='Greece Vs Portugal Euro 2004 Final Full Match' title='Greece Vs Portugal Euro 2004 Final Full Match' />The passage of play that led to Nanis goal saw him energised, at last taking the game to his opponents. When he boomed a free kick narrowly over the bar, he clapped his own effort, delighted to be back in the zone. Portugal, showing flair they had hitherto locked away, had opened up and were at last enjoying themselves, their captain most of all. Suspensions cost Wales dearly. Eventually, Wales ran out of the manpower to achieve the impossible. With Aaron Ramsey and Ben Davies suspended and forced to sit in tracksuited agony on the bench, Coleman brought in Collins and Andy King. King, a Premier League winner with Leicester, could offer similar energy levels to Ramsey, but not the inspirational zeal with which the Arsenal man had made himself one of the finest players at Euro 2. Collins, meanwhile, after a decent first half, was culpable in the games key moments. For the first, he was at a standstill as Ronaldo curved his run onto Raphael Guerreiros ball, leaving James Chester exposed. Ronaldo, who can head the ball better than just about any centre forward in world football, needed no further invitation. Gareth Bales Wales ran out of inspiration at Euro 2. Portugal. And though Bale led a delegation to the linesman to protest that Nani had been offside when scoring the second, Collins had played the newly signed Valencia forward onside. A personal pair of tragedies for him, and Wales were left to rue the loss of Davies perhaps more than they did Ramsey. Collins, a fine professional, was subbed off in the 6. Greece Vs Portugal Euro 2004 Final Full Match' title='Greece Vs Portugal Euro 2004 Final Full Match' />Coleman, though one of desperation, too. Collins and King, though, should not share the whole blame. Others suffered with them. Joe Allen began tentatively in midfield, picking up an eighth minute booking for a hack on Nani after losing a ball that should have been in his control. He never quite gained the poise with which he has impressed in France. It was such loose moments that were always going to be the greatest threat to Wales. The Simpsons The Arcade Game Pc. John Brewin is a staff writer for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter John. VIDEO Portugal 0 1 Greece Highlights. Game Played on 4th July, 2. Kick Off at 1. 8 0. GMTHalf Time finished with scoreline ma. Ctrl. match. home. Score. HT ma. Ctrl. Score. HT Game ended after Full Time with scoreline ma. Ctrl. match. home. Score. FT ma. Ctrl. Score. FT Full Time finished with scoreline ma. Ctrl. match. home. Score. FT ma. Ctrl. Score. FT Game ended after Extra Time with scoreline ma. Ctrl. match. home. Score. ET ma. Ctrl. Score. FT ma. Ctrl. Score. ET ma. Ctrl. Score. FT Extra Time finished with scoreline ma. Ctrl. match. home. Score. ET ma. Ctrl. Score. FT ma. Ctrl. Score. ET ma. Ctrl. Score. FT Game ended after Penalties with scoreline ma. Ctrl. match. home. Score. PEN ma. Ctrl. Score. PEN. Game ended with scoreline ma. Ctrl. match. home.