Portugal v Greece - MATCH REPORT
Charisteas brings Greeks their golden moment
|
| Greece's forward Angelos Charisteas (R) heads the ball in to score against Portugal, 04 July 2004 at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, during the Euro 2004 final match between Portugal and Greece at the European Nations football championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Franck FIFE |
|
| Greek fans celebrate after their team scored against Portugal, 04 July 2004 at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, during the Euro 2004 final match between Portugal and Greece at the European Nations football championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Lluis GENE |
For a triumph fashioned by German coaching methods it was appropriate that a striker who plays in the Bundesliga should have netted the goal to win the European Championship for disciplined Greece.
Angelos Charisteas' towering 57th-minute header floored a hugely disappointing Portugal on Sunday to propel the Greeks, rated rank outsiders at the start of the event, to the topmost table of the European game.
The 24-year-old striker's third goal of the competition was only the pinnacle of an energetic performance throughout as the powerful forward repeatedly drove his teammates forward following his goal to repel Portuguese attempts to get back into the match.
Whereas his box-to-box efforts will eventually fade in the memory Charisteas' bullet header will not, writing a totally unexpected end to a thoroughly unpredictable tournament.
|
| Greece's forward Angelos Charisteas celebrates after scoring against Portugal, 04 July 2004 at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, during the Euro 2004 final match between Portugal and Greece at the European Nations football championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Javier SORIANO |
Having played their habitual waiting game, the Greeks, armed with the knowledge they could beat Portugal having done so in the opening group match, sounded a cruelly simple death knell to the hopes of their rivals.
|
| Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo rues a missed opportunity, 04 July 2004 at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, during the Euro 2004 final match between Portugal and Greece at the European Nations football championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Franck FIFE |
Having won their first corner of the match, Angelis Bassinas sent it over from the right and it was meat and drink to Charisteas, who jumped above Portuguese defender Costinha to plant a firm header past keeper Ricardo for an almost carbon copy of his goal which sank France in the quarter-finals.
The striker with Werder Bremen, where Greece coach Otto Rehhagel once ruled for 14 years, again proved the alchemist as he turned potential silver medals into gold.
As with his efforts against the French and earlier Spain, in the group hase, Charisteas reserved his party piece for around the hour mark, the perfect time to draw the hosts' sting.
The Greek defence did the rest in one of the greatest surprises in football history.