Cristiano Ronaldo’s tears at the end of the Euro 2004 final are an enduring image for many football fans. It was his first major international tournament, and for many viewers, including myself, Euro 2004 was an introduction to the often brutal realities of top-level football. While other sports may strive for manufactured parity, European football, especially at the international level, can feel like a world where established powers reign supreme – except, famously, in Euro In 2004.
The Unthinkable Begins: Greece Defeats Portugal
The Greek national team arrived in Portugal for euro in 2004 as massive underdogs. Their history in major tournaments was bleak; they had never won a single game in a major competition. In fact, in the opening match of euro in 2004, they were essentially expected to be defeated by the host nation, Portugal, a team brimming with talent, including a young Cristiano Ronaldo. I admit, like many, I underestimated Greece and skipped watching the opening game, presuming a comfortable Portuguese victory. However, Greece defied expectations and secured a 2-1 win. This unexpected result served as an immediate, crucial lesson about the unpredictable nature of the Euros: never underestimate any team, and always watch until the final whistle. Interestingly, those two goals against Portugal would prove to be the most Greece scored in any single match throughout the entire tournament. For the rest of euro in 2004, a single goal would often be enough for them to progress.
Tactical Masterclass or “Anti-Football”? Greece’s Defensive Fortress
Throughout euro in 2004, Greece faced a gauntlet of footballing giants, the stars who had dominated the previous decade. From Real Madrid’s “Galácticos” like Luís Figo, Zinedine Zidane, and Raúl, to Juventus’s midfield maestro Pavel Nedvěd, the talent arrayed against Greece was immense. Facing such a vast gulf in perceived skill, Greece’s veteran German coach, Otto Rehhagel, implemented a highly pragmatic, some might say controversial, strategy. His approach was to disrupt and nullify the opposition’s attacking threats. Greece became renowned for their incredibly organized and deep defensive lines. They effectively “clogged” their own penalty area, employing relentless marking that suffocated the space and creativity of opposing playmakers. This tactic made it incredibly difficult for star players to impose themselves and display their usual flair. By dragging Europe’s most celebrated teams into a physical and intensely defensive battle, Greece systematically dismantled them, much like a pack of determined predators.
When a team with the vast resources of a modern Chelsea adopts such defensive tactics, it can often be criticized as unattractive. However, the crucial difference with Greece in euro in 2004 was that they didn’t possess the sheer individual skill to completely dominate games in other ways. In almost every match, there were moments of vulnerability. Two or three close calls would often see shots flash narrowly wide of the Greek goal or be parried away by their goalkeeper. These were not just down to luck; they were moments where only resolute defending and perhaps some fortune prevented equalizing goals. While some purists dismissed these matches as “boring,” for many, including myself at the time, the Greek approach was compelling. Winning “ugly” was undeniably preferable to losing while playing more expansively. These guerrilla tactics, prioritizing strategic defense and seizing limited attacking opportunities, had historically served the Greeks well in warfare – why not on the football pitch? The mantra seemed to be: neutralize the opponent, control the space, and recall the spirit of Thermopylae – resilience against overwhelming odds.
Knockout Shocks: France and Czech Republic Fall
After narrowly progressing from the group stages of euro in 2004, Greece was drawn against the reigning European Champions, France, in the quarter-finals. France was a team packed with iconic names: Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, and Robert Pirès, fresh off Arsenal’s historic undefeated Premier League season. Most expected Greece’s improbable run in euro in 2004 to end decisively here. The narrative suggested it was time for the underdogs to be overwhelmed by superior quality. Yet, the match remained scoreless for over an hour, defying all predictions. Then, in a moment of unexpected brilliance, Greek midfielder Theodoros Zagorakis produced a moment of individual skill that seemed entirely out of character with the team’s overall approach. He flicked the ball audaciously over a French defender’s head, accelerated past him, and delivered a perfect cross into the box. Angelos Charisteas met the cross with a decisive header, scoring the winning goal.
It was precisely the kind of inventive play one would typically associate with Zidane, but on this occasion, it was a Greek player who produced the moment of magic. In that same year, Zidane was voted the best European player since 1954, yet the disciplined Greek midfield effectively neutralized him throughout the quarter-final. Remarkably, for both club and country, Zidane would never win another major trophy after this defeat in euro in 2004, highlighting the significance of this Greek triumph.
In the semi-finals of euro in 2004, Greece faced another formidable opponent: the Czech Republic. The Czechs had their own compelling story, having dramatically qualified for the semi-finals after an exhilarating three-goal comeback against the Netherlands. However, they too proved unable to unlock the smothering Greek defense. A critical blow for the Czech Republic came when Pavel Nedvěd, their inspirational midfielder, was forced off with an injury in the first half. With Nedvěd’s creativity absent, the Czech attacking verve diminished significantly.
As the semi-final progressed into extra time, and exhaustion took hold of both teams, the score remained 0-0. The Czechs, boasting the young goalkeeping prodigy Petr Čech, might have felt confident about their chances in a penalty shootout. However, they wouldn’t even get that far. Moments before the end of the first period of extra time, a lapse in concentration while defending a corner proved fatal. The Czech defense momentarily switched off. Traianos Dellas rose unchallenged to head the ball past a static Čech. It was a “silver goal,” a rule at the time that meant the game ended immediately if a goal was scored in extra time. Greece, against all conceivable odds, were through to the final of euro in 2004.
The Lisbon Finale: Tears of Ronaldo, Triumph of Greece
Though perhaps a minority view at the time, I was genuinely captivated by Greece’s improbable journey through euro in 2004. Looking back a decade later, especially during a period often celebrated for more open and attacking football, euro in 2004 is often remembered less fondly, even considered a low point by some. Fans often tune into international tournaments seeking excitement and attacking brilliance. After enduring the often-grinding nature of club football seasons, they anticipate seeing the likes of France, Brazil, or the Netherlands deliver on the promise of beautiful, expansive football. Major international tournaments are often viewed as an escape from the tactical and sometimes attritional battles of club football. Greece, in euro in 2004, undeniably disrupted this anticipated spectacle.
The final in Lisbon provided Portugal with a chance for revenge against the team that had humiliated them in the tournament opener. Portugal was determined to capitalize on their home advantage and the talent within their ranks. They were led by Ronaldo, alongside veterans from their “golden generation,” like Rui Costa and Luís Figo. These players, who had won the 1989 Youth World Championship, had spent the intervening fifteen years striving to fulfill their immense potential on the senior international stage. Euro in 2004 represented perhaps their last realistic opportunity for major international silverware.
However, Greece, labeled by The Guardian as “the only underdogs in history that everyone wants to see get beaten,” continued to defy expectations and ride their wave of improbable success. Early in the second half of the final, they scored. It was their only corner of the entire match, their solitary shot on target, and, inevitably, the only goal they required. Despite sustained pressure and near-misses from Ronaldo, Figo, and Rui Costa, the Greek defense remained resolute. They absorbed the Portuguese attacks, held firm, and secured the most unlikely of victories. And as the final whistle blew, Cristiano Ronaldo’s tears flowed, encapsulating the shock and disbelief of Portugal’s defeat and Greece’s astonishing triumph at euro in 2004.
While I might not derive quite the same visceral satisfaction from watching Ronaldo’s distress now as I perhaps did in 2004, there was a certain undeniable fascination with witnessing the downfall of a rising star. Even though not yet at his absolute peak, Ronaldo was clearly on the path to greatness, and in 2004, there was a perhaps immature pleasure in seeing him falter on the biggest stage. As I’ve matured as a sports fan, my perspective has shifted somewhat. The simplistic appeal of solely rooting for the underdog has waned. Experience has shown that many “upsets” are often just instances of a good team underperforming, which isn’t always inherently compelling. After watching enough predictable or low-quality football, the desire for genuine excellence becomes paramount. Narrative and underdog stories are engaging, but sometimes, you simply want to see the best teams and players perform to their highest capabilities.
Back in 2004, I invested around $200 to watch euro in 2004 on pay-per-view. This was before ESPN’s extensive coverage of the tournament, and at times that summer, it felt like the broadcast was almost exclusively for a niche audience. Having recently become a dedicated football fan, I was eager to witness the legendary figures of the era: Zidane and Nedvěd, Figo and Totti, Kahn and Barthez. When I embraced football fandom, these players were already established icons, their reputations built on achievements I had only read about. Each year brings new stars, but now they seem younger, more relatable, less like mythical figures. Perhaps no footballer will ever again possess the same aura of invincibility that Zidane had in euro in 2004.
Many of these iconic players would feature in the 2006 World Cup, but for some, it felt like a somewhat melancholic final act. Euro in 2004 served as a turning point, a moment when the established order was unexpectedly overturned. Cristiano Ronaldo learned a harsh but vital lesson about the unpredictable nature of sport, and so did many fans. I tuned into euro in 2004 anticipating a spectacle of footballing titans, but I ultimately became enthralled by eleven resilient Greeks – the team that made the gods of football weep.
