Live from Euro 2004
Big guns silenced
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| French captain Zinedine Zidane looks dejected after his team lost 1-0 to Greece, 25 June 2004 in their European Nations Championship quarter-final football match between France and Greece at the Estadio Jose De Alvalade in Lisbon. |
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| Portuguese fans celebrate after Portugal beat England, 24 June 2004 during their European Nations Championship quarter-final football match between Portugal and England at the Estadio Da Luz in Lisbon. |
Sixteen nations had hopes of winning Euro but sixteen days into the tournament those dreams have been shattered for 12 of them, with five major pretenders having already packed their bags and gone.
Defending champions France, eternal disappointments Italy and Spain, three time winners Germany and the game's inventor England, have all been left by the wayside.
At least France and England can comfort themselves with having got past the group phase, the other three big guns didn't even manage that.
Italy and Spain often boast their domestic league is the best around, and only England raises its voice to protest, but their stars seemed largely jaded.
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| Portugal's defender Nuno Valente (C) celebrates next to Spain's strikers Fernando Morientes (L) and Raul, 20 June 2004 at Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, at the end of the Euro 2004 group A football match between Spain and Portugal at the European Nations championships in Portugal. Portugal won 1 to 0 and is qualified for the quarter final. Spain is kicked out of the competition. AFP PHOTO FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT |
Raul and David Beckham being two cases in pooint. That left Germany's Franz Beckenbauer to reflect that league programmes need to be cut. Crueller voices have suggested that inflated wages is the thing in need of a trim.
Scandinavians Sweden and Denmark both made the quarter-finals with the Swedes only losing out on penalties to Holland after thrilling fans with the verve of their strikers Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Italy failed to beat either of them, before the two drew 2-2 and sent Italy packing with a gripe.
Final foursome
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| Dutch forward Ruud Van Nistelrooij (L) and teammates jubilate, 23 June at Braga's stadium, at the end of the Euro 2004 group D football match between The Netherlands and Latvia at the European Nations championship in Portugal. The Netherlands won 3-0. AFP PHOTO Dimitar DILKOFF |
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| Portugal's midfielder Rui Costa celebrates after scoring during the prolongations, 24 June 2004 during their European Nations football championships quarterfinal match between Portugal and England at The Luz Stadium in Lisbon. AFP PHOTO ADRIAN DENNIS |
Meanwhile the hosts Portugal put their opening day defeat to Greece behind them and can look back on two gut wrenching wins over Spain and England as they approach a semi-final date with 1988 champions Holland.
The Dutch seem to have put internal squabbling behind them and are enjoying a new lease of life with Ruud van Nistelrooy and his support act Arjen Robben leading their charge.
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| Czech forward Jan Koller (L) celebrates his opening goal next to his teammate, forward Milan Baros (R), 27 June 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto, during the Euro 2004 quarter final match between Czech Republic and Denmark at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Vincenzo PINTO |
The Czech Republic's B side eliminated Germany in their last group match and the side have a 100 per cent record as few defences have dealt with their strike force of the giant Jan Koller and speedy Milan Baros, who have rubbished the modern concept that only one striker is needed.
They face Dark Horses Greece with their German coach Otto Rehhagel, who has instilled a sense of discipline to his charges. They have captured famous scalps in the form of Portugal and France and will now turn their attention to stemming the Czech Republic flow of goals that has reaped ten so far.