Greece beat host nation Portugal 1-0 in the final of EURO 2004 in Lisbon on Sunday to win the first major football title in their history.
The outsiders, who had never previously won a match at a major
tournament, lifted the second-most prestigious trophy in the sport
thanks to a 57th-minute header by Werder Bremen striker Angelos Charisteas. The victory was a triumph for Greece's German coach Otto Rehhagel, who turned his adopted country from international
also-rans to the cream of the continent in less than three years,
in the process becoming the first foreign coach to win either the
European Championship or World Cup.
The result ended the dreams of Portugal, also appearing in
their first final, and underlined again that Greece's 2-1 victory
over the hosts in the tournament's first game three weeks ago was
no fluke. Victory over France in the quarter-finals made them the first team to beat the hosts and defending champions in the same
competition, and they reached the final with a superlative team
effort against the fancied Czech Republic.
Greece withstood Portuguese offence
As others now watching from home have found, Greece, with
their tactical discipline, strength and formidable workrate have
developed into a fearsomely difficult side to break down. Off-target shots by defender Miguel and Maniche were all Portugal had to show for their effort in a scrappy first half, while their goalkeeper Ricardo had to react smartly to smother at the feet of Charisteas in a rare Greek foray.
The blue and white decibel level went off the scale in the 57th
minute, however, when Greece took the lead. A driving run by fullback Yourkas Seitaridis earned Greece their first corner of the match and when Angelos Basinas delivered it into the goalmouth, Charisteas outjumped the flailing Ricardo to
power his header into the net.
Then, as they had so often during the tournament, Greece
withstood it all to take the title.
[db]
[bild1]Greece beat host nation Portugal 1-0 in the final of EURO 2004 in Lisbon on Sunday to win the first major football title in their history.
The outsiders, who had never previously won a match at a major
tournament, lifted the second-most prestigious trophy in the sport
thanks to a 57th-minute header by Werder Bremen striker Angelos Charisteas. The victory was a triumph for Greece's German coach Otto Rehhagel, who turned his adopted country from international
also-rans to the cream of the continent in less than three years,
in the process becoming the first foreign coach to win either the
European Championship or World Cup.
The result ended the dreams of Portugal, also appearing in
their first final, and underlined again that Greece's 2-1 victory
over the hosts in the tournament's first game three weeks ago was
no fluke. Victory over France in the quarter-finals made them the first team to beat the hosts and defending champions in the same
competition, and they reached the final with a superlative team
effort against the fancied Czech Republic.
Greece withstood Portuguese offence
[bild2]As others now watching from home have found, Greece, with
their tactical discipline, strength and formidable workrate have
developed into a fearsomely difficult side to break down. Off-target shots by defender Miguel and Maniche were all Portugal had to show for their effort in a scrappy first half, while their goalkeeper Ricardo had to react smartly to smother at the feet of Charisteas in a rare Greek foray.
The blue and white decibel level went off the scale in the 57th
minute, however, when Greece took the lead. A driving run by fullback Yourkas Seitaridis earned Greece their first corner of the match and when Angelos Basinas delivered it into the goalmouth, Charisteas outjumped the flailing Ricardo to
power his header into the net.
Then, as they had so often during the tournament, Greece
withstood it all to take the title.
