Greece win Euro 2004

[Salem6]

By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer in Lisbon


Portugal 0-1 Greece


Greece pulled off one of the biggest shocks in football history to beat Portugal in the Euro 2004 final.

Angelos Charisteas scored from the Greeks' first corner after 57 minutes, heading in an Angelis Basinas cross.

And the Greek defence then stifled the hosts' flair in a tense second half, led by the inspired Traianos Dellas.

Portugal surged forwards and came close through Cristiano Ronaldo, Maniche, and Luis Figo but Greece goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis stood firm.

The hosts were frustrated from the start by a superbly-drilled Greek side, pulled together by coach Otto Rehhagel.

It was disappointment for Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who failed to add the European crown to the World Cup he won with Brazil two years ago.

The Greeks made it a double over Portugal after beating them 2-1 in the opening game of the tournament.

And few could begrudge them their joy after they also beat holders France and the free-scoring Czech Republic.

KEY MOMENTS
57 mins: Charisteas scores with a header from Greece's first corner kick
75 mins: Ronaldo blazes over from eight yards out
89 mins: Figo fires wide from ten yards
All the action as it happened

They retreated quickly into defence in typical style, leaving Portugal to take the early initiative in front of an expectant and fanatical Stadium of Light crowd.

And Nikopolidis was forced into a fine save from Miguel's low drive after 13 minutes.

But Rehhagel's disciplined side also occasionally broke the shackles to pose a threat of their own, Portugal keeper Ricardo needing to be brave at the feet of Charisteas after good work from Zisis Vryzas.

Greece had another narrow escape when Deco's corner was only partially cleared and Maniche's shot from the edge of the area flashed only inches wide.

But it was a rare moment of danger as their packed rearguard, sometimes with 10 men on the edge of the penalty area, started to frustrate their hosts.



Early in the second half, Greece broke the deadlock in dramatic style with a trademark header from Charisteas.

He met a corner from Basinas powerfully to beat Ricardo and spark wild scenes of celebration among Greek fans.

Portugal were stunned, but Ronaldo tried to deliver an instant response, only to see his 20-yarder blocked by Nikopolidis.

Scolari then made a typically bold substitution on the hour, removing an unhappy Costinha to send on veteran Rui Costa.



And Ronaldo immediately had his best opportunity lifting the ball over the bar when put clean through.

Captain Figo almost snatched an equaliser as the seconds ticked away, but his shot was deflected agonisingly wide.

And once Greece had run down five minutes of injury time, the final whistle from referee Markus Merk was the signal for joyous scenes among their fans, with coach Rehhagel being mobbed and players collapsing to the ground in tears.



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Portugal: Ricardo, Miguel (Paulo Ferreira 43), Andrade, Ricardo Carvalho, Nuno Valente, Maniche, Costinha (Rui Costa 60), Ronaldo, Deco, Figo, Pauleta (Nuno Gomes 74).
Subs not used: Moreira, Quim, Couto, Beto, Petit, Postiga, Rui Jorge, Simao, Tiago.

Booked: Costinha, Nuno Valente.

Greece: Nikopolidis, Seitaridis, Kapsis, Dellas, Fissas, Zagorakis, Katsouranis, Basinas, Giannakopoulos (Venetidis 76), Vryzas (Papadopoulos 81), Charisteas.
Subs not used: Chalkias, Katergiannakis, Dabizas, Georgiadis, Goumas, Kafes, Lakis, Tsiartas.

Booked: Basinas, Seitaridis, Fissas, Papadopoulos.

Attendance: 62,865.

Referee: Markus Merk (Germany).




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OFFICIAL STATS BY UEFA
Category Portugal Greece
Total shots 17 4
Shots on target 5 1
Possession 58% 42%
Corners won 10 1
Fouls committed 18 19
Offsides 4 3
Bookings 2 4
Sent Off 0 0






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TRIVIA


It was the first time at the European Championship and World Cup that the two teams who played the opening match of the championship met again in the final.
Greece have won their very first major title. The last time a country claimed their maiden title at a major championship was in 1992 when Denmark lifted the European Championship silverware in Sweden.
Greece became the first nation to win a major championship led by a foreign manager. This had never happened in 11 previous European Championships or 17 World Cups. At 65 years, 10 months and 25 days Otto Rehhagel also became the oldest coach to win a European Championship title, breaking Dutchman Rinus Michels' record from 1988.

Portugal's Luis Figo joined France's Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram and the Czech Republic's Karel Poborský as European Championship record holders for match appearances. The final against Greece marked the 14th match in the history of the competition to feature Figo.



Video:-

Watch highlights: Portugal 0-1 Greece
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/3860105.stm#

Interview: Stelios Giannakopoulos
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/3860105.stm#

Interview: Traianos Dellas
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/3860105.stm#




news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/3860105.stm

[Salem6]

Greece coach Otto Rehhagel said his side's 1-0 defeat of Portugal in the Euro 2004 final was a sensation that made football history.



"It was an unusual achievement for Greek football and especially for European football," he said.

"We took advantage of our chances. The opponent was technically better than us but we took advantage of our chances. We should have made it 2-0.

"The Greeks have made football history. It's a sensation."


Rehhagel and his team delivered one of the biggest shocks in international history with Sunday's victory.

He said: "The differences between the big teams and the so-called smaller teams have become smaller.

"There are always surprises. Remember North Korea beat Italy in the 1966 World Cup in England. This time we are the surprise.

"Someone said we will be like gods in Greece after this. I know Greeks exaggerate both in joy and in sadness but we have no objections if the fans wish to welcome us back at the airport."

And he added: "I would like to congratulate my team and everybody involved. We have developed this team for three years and now you see the result.

"It was a great achievement for us to qualify. We were only interested in the first game but we carried on, had a terrific tournament and ended as champions."

Jubilant match-winner Angelos Charisteas added: "We're the champions of Europe. We're the best team in Europe and we deserved it.

"It's very significant. I'm very happy and very moved. I call on all Greeks to rejoice and celebrate.

"This is a unique moment, which many of us may never experience again.

"We came up against a very strong Portugal side but won - it's the best moment of my career."

Greece captain Theo Zagorakis dedicated his man-of-the-match award to his team-mates.

"I want to congratulate the players. We proved once again that the Greek soul is, and always will be, our strength.

"It is the greatest gift that God ever gave us.

We are going to take this cup to Greek people all over the world. I think we have given them something more than joy.

"We have given them a great pride, which they will be able to carry with them for the rest of their lives."

Leicester defender Nikos Dabizas put Greece's success down to a simple recipe.

Dabizas said: "Our hard work has paid off. We deserved this title because we have been the most consistent throughout this tournament.

"We don't have stars, what we have are quality players that have joined forces and played at a high level."

Dabizas' joy at Greece's triumph was not dimmed by the fact he lost his regular place in the team prior to the finals in Portugal.

The 30-year-old said: "This the most important moment of my life.

"We will never forget this, our country will remember this moment forever."



news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/greece/3860163.stm