LYON, France -- On Oct. 11, 2014, Portugal coach Fernando Santos took charge of a battered side -- they had just lost a home European qualifier against Albania -- for the first time in a friendly against France. The game ended in a 2-1 defeat for the Portuguese but far more important than the result was a challenge laid down by the new manager.
"I called my players together in the bowels of the Stade de France and told them that our goal was to be right back here two years later for the final of Euro 2016," he said after Wednesday's 2-0 semifinal win against Wales.