Greece in Euro 2004 - Portugal's dream destroyed
Euro 2004: Greece Triumph in Portugal
Greece’s tournament victory in Euro 2004 is viewed as one of the greatest shocks in the European Championships history.
In the build-up to Euro 2004. Greece were viewed as one of the weakest teams in the competition and many expected them to crash out in the group stage. In their entire history, Greece had only ever qualified for two international tournaments. The first being the Euros in 1980 and the second being the World Cup in 1994. In both of these tournaments, Greece were knocked out in the group stage and failed to win a single game.
Greece were viewed by the bookmakers as the second least likely team to win Euro 2004 and the bookmakers gave them odds of 150/1 to win the tournament.
Who Were The Favourites At The Time
Heading into the European Championships there were a number of immensely strong teams that were tipped for European glory. This makes Greece’s achievement in this tournament even more staggering.
Portugal were the hosts of the tournament and had an abundance of talent at their disposal. They were managed by a former world champion in Luis Felipe Scolari who had recently guided Brazil to victory in the 2002 World Cup.
France were the reigning European Champions and despite a poor performance at the 2002 World Cup they still possessed one of the tournaments strongest teams. The likes of Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira were fresh from guiding Arsenal to an invincible season. Whereas the likes of Zinedine Zidane and David Trezeguet still looked set to play a key role.
Another team tipped for success was England, who had a golden generation featuring the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes and an upcoming star in the form of teenage sensation Wayne Rooney.
Future world champions Italy and Netherlands were also tipped for the title.
The Arrival of Otto Rehhagel
Greece failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup and endured a disappointing qualification campaign. As a result, Greece sacked Vasillis Daniil and replaced him with the experienced German manager Otto Rehhagel.
This appointment was viewed as a huge coup for the Greece national team. Otto Rehhagel was a well-renowned tactician whose managerial career began back in 1972. Rehhaegel’s teams were known for having great discipline and organisation. This led to him enjoying great success as a manager. Rehhagel is a three-time Bundesliga title winner. He lifted the league title with Werder Bremen in 1988 and 1993.
He also guided Kaiserslauten to the Bundesliga 2 title in 1997 and the Bundesliga title in 1998. This was the first time to date in Bundesliga history that a newly promoted team has won the first division title.
Euro 2004 Qualification
Rehaggel’s first qualification campaign with Greece began in difficult circumstances with 2-0 defeats against both Spain and Ukraine.
As time went on Rehaggel’s tactical pedigree started to show and he was able instil a strong defensive structure to his team. Greece turned their form around in excellent fashion and Rehaggel’s side went on to win all of their six remaining group games without conceding a single goal.
This impressive run of form meant that Greece would top their qualification group ahead of a strong Spanish side containing the likes of Xavi, Carlos Puyol and Raul Gonzalez.
The Group Stage
Despite an impressive run of form in qualification most pundits didn’t Greece a hope of reaching the knockout stages. Greece were drawn in a difficult group that featured Portugal, Spain and Russia. To make factors more difficult Greece would face the hosts in the opening game of the tournament.
Portugal had an immensely talented squad. The likes of Deco and Ricardo Carvalho were fresh from their Champions League victory with Porto. The squad also featured the likes of Luis Figo, Rui Costa and a young Cristiano Ronaldo.
They were playing in front of their own fans and were expected to open the tournament with a victory. However, Greece did not read the script and stunned the hosts with a 2-1 victory in Porto. This victory gave Greece their first-ever win in a major tournament. At the time most pundits viewed it as a fluke and very few expected Greece to make it to the knockout stages.
In Greece’s second game they faced qualification rivals Spain. Spain began the tournament in strong fashion with an opening game victory over Russia and were still seen as heavy favourites to qualify from Group A despite finishing below Greece in qualification. Spain took the lead in the first half through Fernando Morientes but were pegged back in the second half after Angelos Charisteas got on the end of a hopeful long ball on the counter to earn Greece a valuable point as they edged closer to the knockout stages.
In the final game of the group stage, Greece faced a Russia side who were already out of the competition. Greece needed just a point from the game to ensure their passage into the knockout stages. However, they began the game in poor fashion and went two goals down in the early stages. Greece were able to get one goal back before halftime but still suffered a 2-1 defeat in their final group game. Despite the defeat, Greece scraped into the knockout stages finishing narrowly ahead of Spain on goal difference.
Euro 2004 - All the goals
Greece’s Style of play
Rehaggel’s team was built around strict man-marking with a hint of zonal marking. The team primarily played in a 433 formation which would often become a 451 when Greece were off the ball. Their system was reliant on every player tracking back to outwork their opponents and restrict the level of space for the opposition players to make runs. Greece would also operate with a sweeper as their last line of defence this role was usually assigned to central defender Traianos Dellas.
The offensive side of Greece’s game was reliant primarily on long balls and counter attacks with the wide players often moving into the centre to support Zisis Vryzas in attack.
The Quarter-Final - Greece Vs France
After progressing through the Group Stage Greece faced reigning European champions France. The French possessed one of the strongest teams in world football and cruised through Group B as leaders. The likes of Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry were right at the top of their game.
Greece once again defied the odds in the Quarter Final by knocking out the tournaments holders. A powerful second half header from Angelos Charisteas proved the difference in a tightly fought contest. France pilled on the pressure in the game but were out fought by a stubborn Greece defence.
Euro 2004 Semi-Final - Greece Vs Czech Republic
In the Semi-Final Greece faced a strong Czech Republic side who were another nation that had a golden generation of talent at their disposal. They possessed one of the best upcoming goalkeepers in world football in Peter Cech. They also had 2003 Ballon D’or winner Pavel Nedved spearheading the midfield. In attack the tournaments top scorer Milan Baros would be leading the line.
Czech Republic were the side on top throughout the game but a resilient Greek defence did enough to keep the Czech’s at bay. At halftime, Pavel Nedved was forced off with an injury and the match was eventually forced to extra time.
Greece would prevail in a tightly fought contest with a trademark header from Traianos Dellas in the 105th minute of the game. The goal that was scored was an example of the short-lived silver goal system. In this system, the team leading after the first fifteen minutes of extra time would win the game.
The Final of Euro 2004 - Greece Vs Portugal
The final would prove to be a repeat of the opening game of the tournament with Greece once again going head to head with the tournaments hosts Portugal. Portugal were seeking revenge from their opening game defeat and were desperate to lift the trophy in front of their supporters. The match itself was the first time in either a World Cup or European Championships that the two teams who played on the opening game of the tournament met again in the final.
In the rematch, it was Portugal that dominated the contest. In total Portugal had 58% possession. 17 shots and ten corner kicks. Greece in comparison managed 4 shots in total and just one of those shots was on target.
That one shot for Greece proved to be the winner and it came in their only corner of the game courtesy of an Angelos Chariteas in the 57th minute. The hosts were left frustrated throughout the game by a superbly drilled Greece side who had bought into the system drilled into them by the superb tactician Otto Rehhagel.
The greatest underdog story in football history? Or does that belong to the Euro 1992 winning Denmark team? Either way, both great stories in the current age of football being dominated by those with the most resources.
