Deschamps Still Haunted by Eder’s Euro 2016 Winner: “VAR Would Have Ruled It Out”

 

Nearly a decade after Portugal’s historic triumph at UEFA Euro 2016, the decisive goal scored by Eder continues to spark debate in France.

France head coach Didier Deschamps, who led the host nation during the tournament, has admitted that the painful defeat remains one of the biggest disappointments of his career. Speaking in a recent interview, the veteran coach reflected on the final held at the Stade de France, where Portugal secured a famous 1-0 victory after extra time.

While Deschamps avoided describing the result as a regret, he acknowledged that the loss still hurts deeply.

"I prefer to speak about great disappointments rather than regrets," he explained. "The 2016 final in France remains painful because we had not won a major title since 2000. Fortunately, many of those players experienced the success of winning the World Cup in 2018."

The French manager, who is expected to step down after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, also reignited discussion about Eder’s winning goal. According to Deschamps, modern video technology could have changed the outcome of the match.

He pointed to a recent FIFA refereeing review that reportedly concluded the goal would not have stood under current VAR regulations due to an infringement that was not detected at the time.

"That does not change history," Deschamps said. "But a recent FIFA refereeing panel indicated that the Portuguese goal would have been disallowed if VAR had existed then, because of a situation that today would be considered obvious."

Although the comments have reopened old discussions among football fans, they do nothing to alter one of the most iconic moments in Portuguese football history. Eder’s strike remains the goal that delivered Portugal’s first major international trophy, cementing his place in the nation's sporting folklore.

For Portuguese supporters, the memory remains a source of pride. For France and Deschamps, however, it is a reminder of a golden opportunity that slipped away on home soil.

Almost ten years later, the debate surrounding that famous night continues, proving that some football moments never truly fade from memory.