Portugal winger Nani has explained that he didn’t do his usual flipping celebration against Wales because he didn’t have time to think about it.
Throughout his career Nani has usually marked each netted finish with a run and flip but when the 29-year-old scored the second goal against Wales he somewhat surprisingly didn’t perform the party trick.
Speaking after the game to BBC Sport Nani explained that he didn’t think about pulling off the manoeuvre after squeezing his finish past Wayne Hennessey, and he just celebrated off instinct.
He also touched on his side’s impending appearance in the final, and believes that Portugal must be prepared to give everything they’ve got to claim success.
“I wasn’t even able to prepare my celebration, it was mainly instinct. We cannot pick and choose our opponent. We have to believe in ourselves and play our best.”
The victory over Wales, which saw Cristiano Ronaldo equal Michel Platini’s record of nine goals at European Championships with the opening goal, was the first game Portugal have won in 90 minutes at the tournament.
They will now be in their first major final since the 2004 final where they lost to Greece, and they will face either hosts France or reigning world champions Germany.
Nani has scored three goals in the tournament so far and he is in with a chance of winning the Golden Boot, with France’s Antoine Griezmann the current top scorer with four.
Nani’s form so far in the tournament has seen him earn a move to La Liga side Valencia on a three year contract, ending a season-long stay with Turkish side Fenerbahce.
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