Posted on 07/04/2004 5:41:48 PM PDT by longtermmemmory
Euro 2004 - Live from Euro 2004 Mon 05 Jul, 12:10 AM
PARIS (AFP) - Greeks stun Portugal to claim first title 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".
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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.
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.
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.
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.
This is a huge event in athens right now. (major hangovers tommorrow.)
It is amusing because Greece in the past have been acused of having too individualistic a game.
Should get them in the Olympic spirit.
Just spoke to family there, people will be calling in sick tommorrow.
Satelite pictures of cheering in the streets.
UNBELIEVABLE!!!! This is HUGE!!!! Good job for the Greek players, they deserved it beating some of the best teams in the world. BRAVO!!!!
Soccer is a girls sport.
I know what I'm having for lunch tomorrow, Gyros; and to congradulate the family that runs the restuarant; seriously, if you search around, you will find some amazing headlines.
Try "AMAZING GREECE", www.soccernet.com I believe. Another news agency had "IN ANCIENT GREECE, THERE WERE 12 GODS, IN MORDERN GREECE THERE ARE 11",
Congradulations, not only good show in this Olympic year, this is the most successful the Greeks have been in INternational play, and they also, saved a tournament, that, with all respect to all teams, some ref decisions, were highly questionable. Greece won, with hard work. I read, they only had 2 shots, 2 shots on goal the whole game. One of the shots got in for a goal. This is absolutley great.
By the way, Greece defeated Portugal in the first place, then, I think, tied with Spain and did end up losing their last game of division play to a Russian team that had already been eliminated.
Then the knock out rounds, they defeated Defending Euro Champs France, 1-0,
Then they defeat the Czechs, 1-0
And todays game.
The tourney started with Portugal vs. Greece and ended with that game.
I understand the teams meeting in the first game and in the last has actually happened 2 times before, but don't just take my word for it.
But I see you tuned into this thread. It must be your feminine side arising from within. Also, sorry you never learned proper grammar; it must be hard going through life with people wondering if you are stupid, or just uneducated.
I want you to go yell that line aloud at a Argentina's Boca Juniors pub in northern NJ.
If, for some reason, you make it out alive, your assertion will be true.
With funny uniforms.
The Greek Satelite Channels are all showing a hero's return for the team.
It was/is a mob scene. People on motocyles were following the bus and police.
One news agency even put a man on the back of a motorcycle to give an on the spot report.
One english paper had the story of "From Zero's to Heroes" regarding how far low expectations were about this team.
Some of the talking heads are saying for a brief time Greece will be the center of the world again with this coupled with the olympics.
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