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Ecstatic Portugal fans paint the town red, green

Central Lisbon was taken over by dancing fans, faces painted red, green and yellow and waving national flags after Portugal’s stunning 1-0 win over France in the Euro 2016 final on Sunday.

Central Lisbon was taken over by dancing fans, faces painted red, green and yellow and waving national flags after Portugal’s stunning 1-0 win over France in the Euro 2016 final on Sunday.

Thousands of screaming supporters flooded the streets to celebrate the win. “Champions, we are the champions of Europe!” crowds chanted in a fan zone in Lisbon.

“Words fail me. We deserved it. We finally silenced the French and everyone who spoke ill of us. We proved that we are stronger,” said 22-year-old Ruben Sardinha.

Carla Martins, with tears in her eyes, said she didn’t doubt her team for a second. “Portugal! Portugal!” she screamed before losing her voice. “I believed in us right until the end. We deserved it!”

The victory was a much-needed morale boost for Portugal as the country struggles to kickstart its economy after a public spending crisis that sparked a threat of possible sanctions by the European Commission this month. “We are the best in Europe. We showed what we are made of: strong, united and able to overcome all difficulties,” President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said.

Former Portugal captain Luis Figo also chimed in, saying “CHAMPIONS! You are great! Congratulations!” on social media.

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