On July 4, 2004, at the Da Luz stadium in Lisbon, Greece-Portugal is played. The final of the European Championship, with the hosts as the favorites thanks to the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, but also of Figo and Deco, Rui Costa on the bench, but also the new wave of Porto, European Champion very recently thanks to the rising star of José Mourinho. On the other side there is the suffocating pressing, dipped in the Italian school of the catenaccio of Otto Rehhagel’s Greece. The malicious say that they are in the final by chance. Because Russia has already beaten them. Along the way, however, they exclude the reigning champion France, then the Czech Republic who seemed the main threat for Portugal.
Yet Greece knows its limits very well. A team based on a solid defense, but also a very crowded midfield. Zagorakis in front of the defense, Katsouranis and Basinas as mezzali. There would also be Karagounis, former shooting star of Inter, but he is suspended for the final against Portugal. So Giannakopoulos is inserted. Up front there are still Vryzas and Charisteas. The game is deadlocked, on both sides there are no opportunities. Cristiano Ronaldo is not yet the extraordinary striker he was a few years later, Portugal must rely on Pauleta who however never manages to skip past Kapsis and Dellas.
So Greece goes ahead, in fact, with the first available ball. Basinas passes to Charisteas who outshines Jorge Andrade and scores for 1-0. Portugal’s reaction is vehement, but produces little. The only real opportunity falls to the feet of Cristiano Ronaldo who finds himself in front of Nikopolidis, but instead of finding the goal he shoots badly, after having also skipped past the goalkeeper. Ricardo Carvalho hits the target, Figo instead goes one step away with Nikopolidis beaten. It’s a celebration in Athens, unexpected but also deserved. Greece is the European Champion.
Greece-Portugal 1-0
Goalscorers: 57′ Charisteas.
Greece
Nikopolidis, Seitaridis, Kapsis, Dellas, Fissas, Zagorakis, Katsouranis, Basinas, Giannakopoulos (from 76′ Venetidis), Vryzas (from 81′ Papadopoulos), Charisteas.
Trainer: Rehhagel
Portugal
Ricardo, Miguel (from 43′ Paulo Ferreira), Andrade, Ricardo Carvalho, Nuno Valente, Maniche, Costinha (from 60′ Rui Costa), Ronaldo, Deco, Figo, Pauleta (from 74′ Nuno Gomes).
Trainer: Schoolchildren.