The Euro 2004 final was set to be a glorious homecoming for Portugal. Hosting the tournament, boasting a ‘Golden Generation’ of players like Luís Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo, and having overcome a shock opening game defeat, they stood on the brink of their first major international trophy. Their opponents, Greece, were a team few had predicted would even emerge from the group stages, let alone reach the final. This unexpected matchup, a repeat of the tournament opener which Greece had surprisingly won, set the stage for a final that would defy all expectations and become etched in football history as one of the greatest upsets – the Final Euro 2004.
Portugal, driven by the desire to lift the trophy on home soil, were heavily favored. Their journey to the final Euro 2004 had seen them overcome setbacks and demonstrate their attacking prowess. However, the spectre of their initial defeat to Greece loomed large, a stark reminder that underdogs can bite back. Greece, meanwhile, had become the masters of disciplined defense and counter-attacking football. Their tactics, often described as pragmatic and even negative by some, had proven incredibly effective, dismantling higher-ranked teams like France and the Czech Republic along the way to the final Euro 2004. The football world was curious: could Greece pull off one more shock, or would Portugal finally realize their golden dream in this final Euro 2004 showdown?
The atmosphere in Lisbon’s Estádio da Luz was electric, a cauldron of Portuguese passion and nervous anticipation. As the teams emerged onto the pitch, the contrast was palpable. Portugal, in their red and green, exuded confidence, while Greece, in white and blue, appeared resolute, ready to execute their game plan. The pre-match formalities unfolded, the national anthems echoing around the packed stadium, each note amplifying the tension. Luís Figo, the Portuguese captain, won the coin toss, choosing to play towards the end where the majority of Greek fans were located – perhaps a symbolic gesture of defiance or simply a tactical preference. As the whistle blew, signaling the start of the final Euro 2004, the narrative of an improbable triumph began to unfold.
Minute-by-Minute Account of the Final Euro 2004 Match
1 min: Greece kicked off, immediately launching a long ball, a sign of their direct approach. Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo claimed it easily and punted it back into play. The final Euro 2004 was underway.
2 mins: Stelios Giannakopoulos, the Bolton Wanderers midfielder in the Greek lineup, won a free-kick deep in his own half. Portugal quickly regained possession, initiating their expected early pressure. Pauleta, Portugal’s lone striker, made a run down the left flank but was thwarted by a strong tackle from Greek captain Zagorakis.
3 mins: Pauleta pressured Greek goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis on a back pass, but Nikopolidis calmly sidestepped the forward and passed the ball out of defense, showcasing early composure. A promising interplay between Cristiano Ronaldo and Deco followed, with Ronaldo attempting a shot from outside the box on the left, only to see it blocked by the resolute Greek defense.
6 mins: Portugal dominated possession in the early stages, yet struggled to create clear-cut chances. Greece’s defensive lines were already proving difficult to penetrate in this final Euro 2004 encounter.
7 mins: Luís Figo attempted to cut into the Greek box from the left wing but was effectively double-teamed by Seitaridis and Kapsis, forcing a corner for Portugal, which Greece successfully cleared. Every Portuguese attack was met with determined resistance.
9 mins: Figo tried another run down the left, but Seitaridis again halted his progress, conceding only a goal-kick. The Greek defense was proving to be an early frustration for the Portuguese attack. An early goal for Portugal was desperately needed to inject life into the match and settle nerves.
11 mins: Greece earned a free-kick on the right wing, near the Portuguese box. Seitaridis delivered the ball into the box, but Nuno Valente prevented Fyssas from getting a clean header. From the resulting play, Costinha received the first yellow card of the final Euro 2004, a sign of the physical battles unfolding in midfield.
13 mins: Nikopolidis produced a crucial save, diving to his right to tip away a low, diagonal drive from Miguel. Portugal wasted two consecutive corners, failing to capitalize on the pressure. Greece remained defensively solid.
15 mins: A defensive lapse in the Portuguese ranks almost allowed Angelos Haristeas a close-range opportunity, but Ricardo rushed out bravely to smother the chance. Portugal countered, with Cristiano Ronaldo firing a shot from a tight angle which Nikopolidis gathered at the second attempt. Despite Portugal’s efforts, Greece looked increasingly dangerous on the counter in this final Euro 2004 clash.
18 mins: Cristiano Ronaldo’s over-elaboration on the edge of the Greek box allowed Traianos Dellas to execute a perfect tackle. Ronaldo, with his trickery, missed an opportunity to deliver a cross, highlighting the pressure and discipline of the Greek defense.
23 mins: Maniche unleashed a powerful snap-shot from the edge of the box, narrowly missing Nikopolidis’s right post. Long-range efforts seemed to be Portugal’s most promising route to goal against Greece’s compact defense.
26 mins: Greece launched an attack down the left, with Ricardo having to collect a speculative shot-cross from Fyssas. Moments later, Greece won a free-kick on the left. Stelios Giannakopoulos swung it in, and Ricardo again intervened, grabbing the ball off the head of Vryas.
31 mins: Greece began to mount more sustained attacks, primarily down the left flank. Portugal’s defense appeared more unsettled than their Greek counterparts. Deco won a free-kick near the right corner of the Greek penalty area. Figo’s cross was too high for Cristiano Ronaldo at the far post, another wasted opportunity.
36 mins: Neither team could find space to maneuver inside the opposition’s penalty areas. Defenses were firmly on top as the final Euro 2004 approached halftime.
38 mins: Katsouranis’s weak header drifted harmlessly wide of Ricardo’s right post, a rare moment of attacking threat from Greece in open play.
41 mins: Portugal’s right-back Miguel sustained a knock and was replaced by Paulo Ferreira. An enforced change for Portugal added to the tension as halftime approached in the final Euro 2004.
44 mins: The match had become a tactical stalemate, dominated by Greece’s defensive organization. Nuno Valente’s stumble in his own penalty area was indicative of the mounting pressure and frustration within the Portuguese ranks.
44+1 mins: Basinas received a yellow card for a deliberate handball, preventing a Portugal attack. The referee blew for halftime, with Greece heading into the dressing room the happier side, having successfully nullified Portugal’s attacking threats in the first half of the final Euro 2004.
Half-Time: Portugal 0 – 0 Greece
The first half of the final Euro 2004 was a tense and tactical affair. Portugal, despite controlling possession, struggled to break down Greece’s incredibly disciplined and organized defense. Greece, true to their tournament strategy, remained compact, frustrating the hosts and occasionally threatening on the counter. The stage was set for a potentially dramatic second half, with Portugal needing to find a way to unlock the Greek rearguard and Greece aiming to maintain their defensive resilience and perhaps snatch a goal.
45 mins: Portugal restarted the match, seeking to inject more urgency into their play. No changes were made by either side at the break.
47 mins: Figo won a throw-in but then conceded a foul throw, a minor error reflecting the growing pressure on the Portuguese players.
48 mins: Slack marking in the Portugal box led to a corner for Greece, prompting a heated exchange between Portuguese teammates Valente and Costinha, illustrating rising tensions. Portugal countered, and Pauleta cut into the box from the right, but his shot was blocked by Fyssas.
50 mins: Dellas intercepted a Pauleta cross. Portugal continued to dominate possession without creating clear opportunities. Earlier in the half, Deco had appealed for a penalty after going down in the Greek box, but the referee waved play on, choosing not to book him for simulation.
53 mins: The camera focused on the Portuguese Prime Minister and his wife waving a Portugal flag, a nation united in hope and anxiety. Maniche shaped to shoot from outside the box, but Stelios intervened to steal the ball, highlighting Greece’s relentless work rate.
56 mins: GOAL! Portugal 0 – 1 Greece – Against the run of play, Greece scored from their first corner of the match. Poor marking by Portugal allowed Angelos Haristeas to head home from close range, with Ricardo caught out of position. The stadium erupted in stunned silence, broken only by the ecstatic cheers of the small contingent of Greek fans. Greece had taken the lead in the final Euro 2004, a monumental shock.
59 mins: Cristiano Ronaldo shot from the edge of the box, forcing Nikopolidis to parry the ball to the right. Portugal won a free-kick on the left wing, which came to nothing. Portugal made their second substitution, bringing on Rui Costa for Costinha, seeking more creativity in midfield to rescue the final Euro 2004.
63 mins: Greece half-cleared a poor Pauleta cross, and the ball fell to Figo. His low drive from inside the box was comfortably saved by Nikopolidis. Greece countered dangerously, with a long ball from Zagorakis exposing Ricardo, who did well to avert the danger under pressure from two Greek attackers.
66 mins: Portugal won a corner, delivered by Figo, but Dellas headed clear. Dellas immediately urged his fellow defenders to push higher up the pitch, maintaining their defensive line.
67 mins: Portugal won a free-kick on the right wing, but the delivery was straight into Nikopolidis’s arms. Andrade was heavily marked in the box, with his marker seemingly grappling him, but the referee remained unmoved, denying Portugal a potential penalty appeal in this tense final Euro 2004.
69 mins: Portugal won two more corners in quick succession, but Greece dealt with them effectively, their aerial defense proving impenetrable.
70 mins: Portugal made their final substitution, replacing Pauleta with Nuno Gomes, adding another attacking option as time ticked away in the final Euro 2004.
74 mins: Cristiano Ronaldo made a brilliant run, breaking through on goal with only Nikopolidis to beat. However, his first touch took him slightly wide, giving Nikopolidis time to close him down, and Ronaldo skied his shot over the bar. A golden opportunity wasted for Portugal in this crucial final Euro 2004 moment.
76 mins: Greece made their first substitution, replacing Giannakopoulos with Venetidis, adding fresh legs to midfield and further reinforcing their defensive structure. Greece were now just 14 minutes away from a historic European Championship victory.
77 mins: The Greek defense pushed out, catching Cristiano Ronaldo offside. He controlled Maniche’s pass and turned to shoot, but the offside flag curtailed the attack. Greece’s defensive discipline was exemplary.
79 mins: Cristiano Ronaldo shot high and wide from the left corner of the penalty area, frustration growing within the Portuguese ranks.
80 mins: Nikopolidis parried a long-range effort from Maniche, but no Portuguese player was close enough to capitalize on the rebound. Greece made another substitution, Papadopoulos replacing Vryas, further solidifying their defense and running down the clock in the final Euro 2004.
82 mins: Figo, on the edge of the Greek box, shaped to shoot but was immediately swarmed by two Greek defenders, dispossessed and left bewildered by the relentless pressure.
84 mins: Papadopoulos received a yellow card for a late challenge.
85 mins: A pitch invader disrupted play, running onto the field waving a Barcelona flag before being apprehended by stewards. A brief moment of chaos in the intense atmosphere of the final Euro 2004.
88 mins: Figo received the ball in the Greek box with his back to goal, turned and shot, but his low drive whistled narrowly wide. Time was running out for Portugal.
90 mins: Jorge Andrade headed over the bar from a late Portuguese attack. Five minutes of added time were announced, a glimmer of hope for Portugal, but a mountain to climb against the resolute Greek defense in this final Euro 2004.
90+3 mins: Nuno Valente received a yellow card for a needless foul, gifting possession back to Greece, further eating into the remaining time. Portugal looked defeated, while Greece appeared tireless, on the verge of an unprecedented triumph in the final Euro 2004.
90+5 mins: FULL TIME! Portugal 0 – 1 Greece – The final whistle blew, confirming one of the biggest shocks in European Championship history. Greece had won the final Euro 2004! Greek players and fans erupted in jubilation, a scene of pure ecstasy, while the Portuguese side and the home crowd were plunged into despair and disbelief. Cristiano Ronaldo was among several Portuguese players in tears. Greece, who had never won a match in a major tournament before Euro 2004, were crowned European Champions.
Presentation Ceremony
A visibly disappointed Eusebio presented the Portugal team with their runners-up medals. Then, the Greek squad ascended the podium to a thunderous ovation from their fans. Theodoros Zagorakis, the Greek captain, lifted the Euro 2004 trophy, triggering an explosion of blue and white ticker-tape and scenes of wild celebration. Greece, against all odds, had conquered Europe in the final Euro 2004.
Match Details:
Portugal (4-5-1): 1-Ricardo; 13-Miguel (41′ Paulo Ferreira), 16-Ricardo Carvalho, 4-Jorge Andrade, 14-Nuno Valente; 6-Costinha (59′ Rui Costa), 18-Maniche, 20-Deco, 7-Luis Figo, 17-Cristiano Ronaldo; 9-Pauleta (70′ Nuno Gomes).
Subs not used: Moreira, Quim, Couto, Beto, Petit, Postiga, Rui Jorge, Simao, Tiago.
Greece (4-4-2): 1-Antonis Nikopolidis; 2-Yourkas Seitaridis, 19-Michalis Kapsis, 5-Traianos Dellas 14-Takis Fyssas; 8-Stelios Giannakopoulos (76′ Venetidis), 7-Theodoros Zagorakis, 6-Angelos Basinas, 21-Costas Katsouranis; 15-Zisis Vryzas (80′ Papadopoulos), 9-Angelos Haristeas.
Subs not used: Chalkias, Katergiannakis, Dabizas, Georgiadis, Goumas, Kafes, Lakis, Tsiartas.
Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)
Linesmen: Jan-Hendrik Salver (Germany), Christian Schraer (Germany)
Kick-off: 7:45pm GMT
The final Euro 2004 will forever be remembered as the ultimate underdog story, a testament to tactical discipline, teamwork, and unwavering belief. Greece’s improbable triumph over Portugal on their home turf remains one of the most astonishing achievements in football history, a moment that continues to inspire and defy expectations.
