Portugal heroes return to Lisbon after Euro 2016 triumph

Lisbon (AFP) – The Portugal football team led by Cristiano Ronaldo returned home to a heroes’ welcome Monday after their upset triumph over France in the Euro 2016 final.

Tens of thousands of fans waited for the team at Lisbon airport when their special flight arrived. There have been joyous nationwide celebrations since the 1-0 win at the Stade de France in Paris on Sunday night.

Two airport fire trucks sprayed jets of water in the green and red national colours as the the plane taxied to the terminal.

Ronaldo and coach Fernando Santos were first to emerge from the plane with the trophy.

Man-of-the-match defender Pepe carried the prize down the steps, where the 23-man squad boarded an open-top bus to start a victory parade for the country’s first major international football honour.

After meeting President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the bus was to take Ronaldo and his fellow-conquerors on a tour of the capital.