Portugal entered Euro 2016 a one-man team but left a unit and champions of Europe, writes PETER OKWOCHE.

So Portugal won and Ronaldo now has his first ever international trophy.

Did they deserve it? On the balance of play during the whole tournament – no. But, if you assess only their performance in the final, then yes. Don’t get me wrong, France were the better team for long periods during that game, but Portugal had a game plan and stuck to it like super glue.

Football is a strange game. Coming into Euro 2016 Portugal were seen as a one man team.  Ronaldo was the name on everyone’s lips – by far one of the two best players in the world. With Ronaldo, the impossible could happen on the pitch. But Portugal were mediocre in the group phase. Upstaged by Iceland – much to the annoyance of Ronaldo and, therefore to the glee of the neutral fans. By the time they got to the knock-out stage, they hadn’t managed to win a single game in regulation time.

Upstaged by Iceland – much to the annoyance of Ronaldo and, therefore to the glee of the neutral fans. By the time they got to the knock-out stage, they hadn’t managed to win a single game in regulation time.

It was against the brilliant Wales team that we began to see something of the real Ronaldo – one goal and one assist sent warnings to their remaining opponents. But, irony was to play a huge part in that final. The man who the whole of Portugal was hoping would carry the team on his shoulders limped off with an injury early in the first half. In tears.

A colleague of mine argues that France lost that game the moment Ronaldo was substituted. At that point, Portugal became a team! The players played for each other. No longer did they have to look for Ronaldo to pass the ball to. And they managed to withstand everything the French threw at them, with Ronaldo turning assistant coach on the side-lines. And, when the

The players played for each other. No longer did they have to look for Ronaldo to pass the ball to. And they managed to withstand everything the French threw at them, with Ronaldo turning assistant coach on the side-lines. And, when the Guinea Bissau-born, Eder, struck that sweet shot late in the second half of extra time, you knew France were beaten. There was no coming back from that one.

At the final whistle, Ronaldo cried – again. He’d managed something his great rival, Messi, had not managed until he retired from international football a few weeks ago – to win an international trophy.

It was great to see former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson waiting in the crowd to hug his two ‘sons’ Nani and Ronaldo. He looked like a proud father. He also looked like a fan – not at all like one of the greatest managers to ever patrol the technical area.

So, Euro 2016 has come and gone. But guess what? It’ll be back in just four years and I, for one, can’t wait.

– Peter Okwoche presents Focus on Africa on BBC World News. Tune in Monday to Friday at 19.30 on DStv, channel 400.