The landscape of international soccer is often dominated by familiar giants, but every now and then, a tournament unfolds that defies all expectations. For me, and many casual fans, Euro Cup Soccer 2004 stands out as a vivid reminder of this unpredictable magic. While the upcoming international competitions are generating buzz, my thoughts drift back to Portugal in 2004, a year when an underdog story for the ages captivated even those of us who only occasionally tune into the beautiful game. Living in Europe for nearly a decade, I experienced several Euro Cups, but none resonated quite like 2004, except perhaps for the anticipation around Wales’s debut in a major tournament years later – a different kind of underdog narrative. However, 2004 was truly special. It was a year when the improbable happened, when Greece, a team given almost no chance, ascended to the pinnacle of European soccer. This is my recollection of that Euro Cup, a tournament where the ultimate underdogs, against all odds, claimed the coveted title.
Growing up in England, the rhythm of the Euro Cup was inescapable, particularly the hopes and anxieties surrounding the English national team. In my middle school, this quadrennial soccer fever reached a peak with a classroom sweepstake. Instead of money, the stakes were candy, a fortune for 11 and 12-year-olds. Each of us drew a team at random. My lucky draw was the Czech Republic, a team brimming with talent and considered a strong contender. Others weren’t so fortunate, landing teams like Latvia or Greece, perceived as mere participants in a tournament typically dominated by powerhouses like Spain, France, Portugal, Czech Republic, and Italy. In 2004, the spotlight was firmly on the host nation, Portugal, heavily favored to lift the trophy on home soil. But the opening match in Porto hinted at a different script, a tournament poised to deliver the unexpected.
The first sign that Euro Cup Soccer 2004 was destined to be different was the stunning defeat of Portugal by Greece in the opening game. A nation that had only graced the Euro Cup stage once before, Greece, humbled the hosts. An instinctive feeling took hold – Greece might just pull off something remarkable. Perhaps it was the inherent human attraction to the underdog, but a sense of anticipation grew around this Greek team. Of course, personally, I was still rooting for the Czech Republic, my sweepstake team. And certainly, an England victory was far from my wish list, for entirely subjective reasons.
While I don’t recall watching many of the group stage matches live, likely due to school commitments, I diligently followed the tournament’s unfolding drama. Several moments from the group stage remain etched in memory. The Czech Republic’s dominant performance in Group D, sweeping all their matches, kept my sweepstake hopes alive. England’s heartbreaking encounter with France in Group B, where two Zinedine Zidane goals in stoppage time, including a questionable penalty, snatched victory from their grasp. And then, there was Greece, defying expectations again, securing second place in Group A and progressing to the knockout rounds. Their advancement was already a shock, given their dismal pre-tournament odds. Spain, a team with far greater pedigree, was eliminated in the same group by Greece, further underscoring the unpredictable nature of the tournament. Yet, few believed Greece’s journey would extend far into the knockout stages.
The quarterfinal clash between England and Portugal is perhaps my most vivid memory of Euro Cup Soccer 2004, a match I watched with rapt attention. Two moments stand out with stark clarity: David Beckham’s unusually poor penalty kick, soaring high over the crossbar, and the agonizing sudden-death penalty shootout loss for England, sealed by a save from Portugal’s goalkeeper, who then stepped up to score the winning penalty himself. Two years later, in the 2006 World Cup, Portugal would again eliminate England in the quarterfinals via penalties, denying England any semblance of revenge. While many in my school were crestfallen, I confess to a degree of personal satisfaction. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic continued their impressive run, reaching the semifinals, keeping my sweepstake dreams flickering. But, inevitably, Greece reappeared as the tournament’s persistent surprise package, defeating the reigning European champions France 1-0 to secure a semifinal berth against the Czech Republic.
By this stage, a shift in sentiment was palpable, at least within my school. While initially supporting their own nations or pre-tournament favorites, many found themselves drawn to Greece’s improbable journey. Their underdog status, coupled with Portugal’s quarterfinal victory over England, seemed to galvanize support for the Greeks. Despite my sweepstake investment in the Czech Republic, a part of me was also captivated by Greece’s Cinderella story. The prevailing sentiment predicted a Portugal versus Czech Republic final, but Euro Cup Soccer 2004 had consistently defied predictions. While Portugal did indeed reach the final, the Czech Republic did not. In another stunning 1-0 victory, Greece extinguished the Czech Republic’s hopes, advancing to the final and setting up a rematch against the hosts, Portugal. Having witnessed Greece defeat Portugal in the tournament opener, a sense of inevitability settled in. It felt as though Greece was destined to win the final, history was about to repeat itself.
And history did repeat itself. Despite not watching the final live, the result was unforgettable: Greece defeated Portugal 1-0, clinching their first, and to date, only Euro Cup title. Greece’s knockout stage success was built upon an incredibly resolute defense and clinical set-piece execution. Remarkably, all three of their knockout victories were 1-0, each goal originating from a cross or corner kick. The result was immensely satisfying, primarily due to Greece’s unprecedented underdog triumph. Since Euro Cup Soccer 2004, my engagement with subsequent Euro Cups has been limited to noting the winners – Spain in both 2008 and 2012. However, the memory of Euro Cup Soccer 2004, the year Greece defied every expectation, remains a captivating chapter in soccer history, a true testament to the beautiful game’s capacity for surprise and the enduring appeal of the underdog.
