Twenty years have passed, yet the echoes of Greece’s astonishing victory at the 2004 Uefa Euro in Portugal continue to reverberate throughout the football world. For many, it remains the ultimate underdog story in major international tournament history, a feat so improbable that its shock value endures to this day. Traianos Dellas, a central figure in Greece’s impenetrable defense during that tournament, encapsulates this sentiment perfectly. He, like countless others, struggles to comprehend the passage of time since that extraordinary summer.
“Personally, I feel like it happened only yesterday,” Dellas, now 48, reflects. “Sometimes, I think that every Greek person who lived through and experienced it remembers it like it happened just yesterday.”
Indeed, the triumph is etched into the collective memory of a nation. The players who defied all odds are still revered figures, their names synonymous with an unprecedented moment of national pride. Even casual encounters serve as constant reminders of their achievement.
“All the players from the team are still in touch,” Dellas reveals, highlighting the enduring bond forged in Portugal. “We’re still active and we’ve established an NGO called Champions for Life, which aims to help people and carry out charity work throughout the community. We still often get together and we’ve remained very active over the years. As for the 20th anniversary, we’re preparing something big. Everyone in Greece will be able to come together and celebrate that amazing win all over again.”
This enduring legacy is further underscored by UEFA’s commitment to fostering football development across Europe. Since the 2004 UEFA Euro, the UEFA HatTrick program has channeled a significant portion of each EURO’s net revenue back into the sport. An average of 66% of these funds are distributed to UEFA’s 55 member associations, fueling grassroots initiatives and infrastructure projects across the continent.
UEFA HatTrick: Fueling European Football Growth Since 2004
The HatTrick program’s growth mirrors the increasing scale of the EURO itself. Over two decades and five men’s EURO tournaments, this remarkable solidarity fund has distributed a cumulative €2.6 billion, supporting over 800 development projects. Looking ahead, a further €935 million generated from EURO 2024 will be reinvested into the game, ensuring a lasting impact far beyond the final whistle.
The Power of Unity: Greece’s Unlikely Success
The camaraderie within the Greek squad was undeniably the bedrock of their improbable journey. Entering the 2004 UEFA Euro, the national team had never even tasted victory in a major tournament match. Pre-tournament predictions were bleak, yet within the team, a unique sense of unity and purpose began to coalesce.
“No, not at all,” Dellas firmly states when asked if they harbored trophy aspirations before the competition commenced. So, how did Greece conquer the 2004 UEFA Euro? The answer lies in their unwavering team spirit. This band of brothers, bound by a shared determination, overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles, defeating hosts Portugal not once, but twice – in the opening match and the final. Their knockout stage triumphs against reigning champions France and the highly favored Czech Republic further cemented their status as giant-killers.
Greek players celebrating their Euro 2004 victory against Portugal
“Greece celebrate their stunning victory over Portugal in the UEFA Euro 2004 final, securing the championship.”
“We didn’t have the same star players that other teams in that EURO had,” Dellas acknowledges, contrasting their squad with the star-studded lineups of their rivals. “But we all got along very well as characters, and we were also a very tight-knit group. That helped us to defeat those star-quality teams who seemed much better than us. We all had strong personalities and good characters. Our main advantage, though, was that we were all able to put the team ahead of ourselves.”
Dellas: A Defensive Pillar in Greece’s Euro 2004 Fortress
This selfless ethos was particularly evident in Greece’s defensive solidity. Dellas was the embodiment of this resilience, a colossus at the heart of a backline that conceded a mere four goals in six matches, remarkably achieving clean sheets in all three knockout games. His commanding presence and leadership earned him a well-deserved place in UEFA’s Team of the Tournament. However, Dellas is quick to emphasize the collective defensive effort that underpinned their success.
“I rewatched all those games recently,” he shares. “I’d never watched them before. Being a coach now, I noticed things that surprised me, like how excellent the effort of the forward and midfield players was. They did a great job in helping to relieve the pressure on the players in defence, and I could see that every player was working hard on the pitch. Credit goes to all the players in that squad, not just myself or my fellow defenders.”
The tactical mastermind behind Greece’s defensive prowess was coach Otto Rehhagel. His pragmatic approach, built on a foundation of rigorous defense and tactical discipline, proved to be the perfect formula for unlocking the team’s potential at Euro 2004. While not always aesthetically pleasing, Rehhagel’s system maximized Greece’s strengths and effectively nullified the attacking threats of their opponents.
The Silver Goal and Golden Memories of Euro 2004
Dellas’s contribution wasn’t limited to his defensive duties. He etched his name further into 2004 UEFA Euro folklore with a historic goal in the semi-final against the Czech Republic. His towering header in the dying moments of the first period of extra time secured a dramatic victory and marked the only silver goal ever scored in an international match. Interestingly, it was also his sole goal for his national team.
“To tell you the truth,” he admits, “I don’t remember a lot from that moment because of the intensity and fatigue from playing the match. It’s a true blessing that, after 20 years, I’m still being thanked by people in the street. I tell them they probably remember more from watching that game than I do.”
Greek national team celebrating with fans after Euro 2004 victory
“The Greek national team acknowledges the roaring support of their fans during the Euro 2004 celebrations.”
The culmination of their improbable journey arrived three days later in the final against Portugal. Angelos Charisteas’s decisive goal secured a 1-0 victory, sparking scenes of jubilation across Greece and completing one of the most remarkable upsets in football history. For Dellas and his teammates, the final whistle signaled a release of immense pressure and the realization of an unimaginable dream.
“It was like a weight was lifted off us,” Dellas describes the overwhelming emotion. “In reality, we shouldn’t have felt so much pressure because we were total underdogs. Had we not won the final, we still would have considered ourselves winners, but that was just our character. We were thirsty for success so, when it was over, we all breathed a sigh of relief.”
Since hanging up his boots, Dellas has transitioned into coaching, notably guiding AEK Athens from the third division back to the Greek Super League. However, his deepest wish is to witness a new generation of Greek players emulate, or even surpass, their 2004 UEFA Euro triumph.
“I wish for it to happen again, or for it to be even bigger and better,” he expresses with genuine hope. “We want the young players to surpass us. That’s our mentality, and it’s not impossible for another team to achieve that. I really hope there’ll be another generation of players like us.”
As the 20th anniversary of that magical summer approaches, the legacy of Greece’s 2004 UEFA Euro victory endures. It serves as a timeless reminder that in football, and in life, the power of unity, belief, and unwavering determination can lead to even the most improbable of triumphs.
