France v Greece - MATCH REPORT
Listless France dethroned by Greece
Greece created one of the biggest shocks in the history of the European Championships by dumping defending champions France out of the tournament on Friday.
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| Greece's forward Angelos Charisteas (L) celebrates with midfielder Vasileios Lakis after scoring, 25 June 2004 during their European Nations Championship quarter-final football match between France and Greece at the Estadio Jose De Alvalade in Lisbon. AFP PHOTO Javier SORIANO |
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| Greece's forward Angelos Charisteas (R) heads the ball past French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez to score, 25 June 2004 during their European Nations Championship quarter-final football match between France and Greece at the Estadio Jose de Alvalade in Lisbon. AFP PHOTO Lluis GENE |
A 65th-minute header by Werder Bremen striker Angelos Charisteas was enough to give Otto Rehhagel's tightly-organised side a 1-0 win that sends them into a meeting with either the Czech Republic or Denmark in their first ever appearance in the semi-finals of a major tournament.
The demise of Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry and co. will be regretted by most neutrals. But Jacques Santini's side had only themselves to blame after another listless display resulted in them joining England, Spain, Italy and Germany on the Euro 2004 scrapheap.
Over the 90 minutes, Greece were worthy winners against a French side that never got anywhere close to the level of performance many expected them to produce in their first encounter in the knockout stage of the competition.
Greece had enjoyed the better of an uninspiring first half.
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| French forward David Trezeguet (C) puts his hands in the air, 25 June 2004 at Estadio Jose De Alvalade in Lisbon, during the European Nations championship quarter-final football match between France and Greece. AFP PHOTO Franck FIFE |
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| French fans look sad after watching their team lost 1-0 to Greece, 25 June 2004 at Estadio Jose De Alvalade in Lisbon in the European Nations championship quarter-final football match between France and Greece. AFP PHOTO Franck FIFE |
France's only chance of the opening period came when Zidane sent Bixente Lizarazu to the byline and the left-back's cross was perfectly judged for Henry but the Arsenal striker directed his header wide.
Just as it seemed France were on the verge of assuming control of the match, Greece produced their winner.
Theodoros Zagorakis was afforded acres of space on the right of the French box and the Greece captain exploited it to the tilt. A deft first touch carried him to the edge of the area and his chip was equally precise, allowing Charisteas to power an unstoppable header high past Barthez's left hand from eight yards out.
France's last chance to cling on to their title fell to Henry with just over three minutes left but, once again, his header was directed wide of the target.