Greeks scale Olympus

Greece's extraordinary Euro 2004 odyssey ended in a 1-0 victory over hosts Portugal in the final on Sunday as they were crowned European cha...

Greece8217;s extraordinary Euro 2004 odyssey ended in a 1-0 victory over hosts Portugal in the final on Sunday as they were crowned European champions for the first time. Greece, 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 striker Angelos Haristeas and more of the tenacious defending that has underpinned their campaign.

It was a triumph for Greece8217;s German coach Otto Rehhagel, who turned his adopted country from international also-rans to the cream of the continent in three years to become the first foreign manager to win the European Championship or World Cup.

8220;The Greeks made football history today,8221; Rehhagel told reporters. 8220;It8217;s a sensation. It was an unusual achievement for Greek football and especially for European football.

8220;The team played great football. We took advantage of our chances. The opponent was technically better than us.8221;

The result ended the dreams of Portugal, also appearing in their first final and attempting to become the first host country to win the European Championship since France in 1984.

8220;We ask forgiveness from all the Portuguese because we weren8217;t able to achieve the goal that we all wanted,8221; Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said.

8220;It8217;s hard. It8217;s hard to lose this way8230;to play a game this way, without goals. They won defensively. They won because they knew how to play in that way.8221;

Story continues below this ad

Victory over France in the quarter-finals made Greece the first side 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.

Many thought that gruelling extra-time success would leave them too drained to compete with the buoyant hosts, who had recovered from their opening blow to hit top form.

But Greece, with their tactical discipline, strength and formidable workrate have developed into a fearsomely difficult side to break down. Portugal, showing five changes from the team who appeared paralysed by nerves in the tournament8217;s opening game, started more confidently but rarely found an end product.

Off-target shots by defender Miguel and midfielder Maniche were all they 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 Haristeas in a rare Greek foray.

Story continues below this ad

It was a half short of quality, though the massed ranks of around 15,000 Greek fans seemed unconcerned as they did their best to negate Portugal8217;s home advantage with a constant barrage of noise.

The blue and white decibel level went off the scale in the 57th minute, however, when Greece took the lead. Reuters

WHERE DO THEY GO NOW?

GREECE

Back home for a ticker-tape parade and a place in that famous pantheon. Longer-term future is less certain, with domestic football in a deep financial trough

PORTUGAL

Some into retirement, a few to Chelsea, Scolari hopefully on a search for either one good striker or a system that does without them altogether