Euro 2016 final: Young Portugal fan consoles crying Frenchman after final whistle
The heart-warming gesture occurred at a fan zone immediately after Portugal beat France
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Your support makes all the difference.After the European Championship was blighted by violent clashes between fans and police throughout the month-long tournament, a video has emerged to reveal that the true spirit of football lives on at Euro 2016.
France appeared destined to win a third European crown on home soil, with their run to the final coming just eight months after the horrific terror attacks on Paris left 130 people dead and the nation in a state of emergency that it remains in today.
Yet their moment on the big stage was stolen by a Portugal side who managed to win a first ever major trophy despite securing just one victory inside 90 minutes throughout their entire campaign.
The extra-time defeat left France fans distraught, with one supporter caught on camera breaking down in tears in one of the fan zones that were spread out around the country. Holding his head in his hands, the man was disconsolate at seeing his side come within inches of winning the European Championship on their own turf for the third time, with Les Bleus also triumphing in 1984 and 2000.
Yet something amazing was about to happen. As the man sobbed to himself, a young boy wearing a Portugal shirt approached him and grabbed his hand in an attempt to console him. The French supporter appeared overcome with emotion after the heart-warming gesture, and he embraced the kid before leaving the fan zone.
Despite the violent clashes witnessed in Marseille during the opening week of the tournament, and further disruption on the night of the final as police clashed with fans near the fan zone located at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the video proves that fans can still come together and unite when it matters most.
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