The setting is a perfect fit for the game’s age of excess. The 21-year-old striker for Benfica started in place of Cristiano Ronaldo and instantly became Portugal’s new goal-scoring hero.

At the other end Cristiano Ronaldo shot straight at Jens Lehmann having been given time and space in the box, but with four minutes to go a cute Cesc Fabregas pass saw Adebayor spring behind the ...