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Live from Euro 2004


Greeks stun Portugal to claim first title

Greece's captain Theodoros Zagorakis (C) surrounded by team members holds up the trophy, 04 July 2004 at Stadio da Luz in Lisbon after the Euro 2004 final football match between Portugal and Greece at the European Nations Championship in Portugal. Greece won 1-0.
Greece's captain Theodoros Zagorakis (C) surrounded by team members holds up the trophy, 04 July 2004 at Stadio da Luz in Lisbon after the Euro 2004 final football match between Portugal and Greece at the European Nations Championship in Portugal. Greece won 1-0.
Greece's forward Angelos Charisteas (R) 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 Franck FIFE
Greece's forward Angelos Charisteas (R) 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 Franck FIFE

Greece tore up the Euro 2004 script in the most spectacular fashion imaginable on Sunday with a 1-0 win over Portugal to claim the first major trophy in the history of one of Europe's football minnows.

Angelos Charisteas, the striker whose header had sunk France in the quarter-final, repeated the trick with a 57th-minute winner that left the host nation in a state of stunned disbelief.

"I feel very emotional," said the 24-year-old Werder Bremen marksman.

"I am going to live this historical moment for all its worth as this may never happen again to us".

The Greeks' triumph, masterminded by their German coach Otto Rehhagel, represents arguably the biggest ever surprise in a major tournament.

Rehhagel's side had started the tournament as 150-1 outsiders and even after they had beaten defending champions France and then the Czech Republic in the semi-final, few gave them any chance of resisting the attacking verve of the tournament hosts in the final.

Greek forward Angelos Charisteas (foreground) heads the ball to score the opening goal, 04 July 2004 at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, during the European Nations championship final football match between Portugal and Greece. AFP PHOTO Vincenzo PINTO
Greek forward Angelos Charisteas (foreground) heads the ball to score the opening goal, 04 July 2004 at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, during the European Nations championship final football match between Portugal and Greece. AFP PHOTO Vincenzo PINTO

But they did and Portugal can only blame themselves for their failure to break down their tightly-organised opponents who rarely ventured out of their own half of the pitch.

Portugal were only marginally more incisive than the Greeks. Pauleta tried his luck with a long range effort that flew straight at Nikopolidis but the only clear chance came mid-way through the half when the clearance from a Deco corner fell invitingly for Maniche on the edge of the area.

Portugal's Brazilian head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari reacts, 04 July 2004 at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, at the end of the Euro 2004 final match between Portugal and Greece at the European Nations football championship in Portugal. Greece won the match 1 to 0 to be crowned champions of Europe. AFP PHOTO Vincenzo PINTO
Portugal's Brazilian head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari reacts, 04 July 2004 at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, at the end of the Euro 2004 final match between Portugal and Greece at the European Nations football championship in Portugal. Greece won the match 1 to 0 to be crowned champions of Europe. AFP PHOTO Vincenzo PINTO

An injury to Miguel forced Scolari to replace the Benfica defender with Chelsea-bound Paulo Ferreira two minutes before the break.

The anxiety of the home fans was to prove well founded as Greece took advantage of their second meaningful attack of the match to claim the lead, 11 minutes into the second half.

Greece's coach Otto Rehhagel celebrates, 04 July 2004 at the Luz stadium in Lisbon after the Euro 2004 final match between Portugal and Greece at the European Nations football championship in Portugal. Greece won 1-0.
Greece's coach Otto Rehhagel celebrates, 04 July 2004 at the Luz stadium in Lisbon after the Euro 2004 final match between Portugal and Greece at the European Nations football championship in Portugal. Greece won 1-0.

A strong run by right-back Georgios Seitardis forced Ronaldo to concede a corner on the right of the Portugal goal.

Angelis Basinas swung it across and Charisteas got in front of both Costinha and Ricardo Carvalho to head home from close range.

With 17 minutes of regulation time left, Scolari played his final card by bringing on Nuno Gomes for the ineffective Pauleta.

Portugal's last chance came with two minutes left. Twisting and turning in the box, Figo managed to sidefoot a shot towards the bottom corner. But it was not to be, Traianos Dellas' boot getting just enough of a touch to deflect the ball inches wide of the upright.