Portugal 2004.
 Euro 2004 -- The Finals Tournament |
Saturday, 12th June:
Portugal -- Greece (1-2)
As soon as the opening ceremony was over, Georgios
Karagounis popped the party balloons with a low drive from the edge of the area, to open
the scoring of the Euro 2004 European Championship Finals -- in the 7th minute.
Seven minutes into the second-half and the
hosts were two goals down; Angelos Basinas converting for Greece from the penalty spot --
sending Ricardo the wrong way in the process.
Figo's tireless work earned a consolation goal
when his corner, in the last minute of time added on, was headed home by second-half
substitute and penalty villain, Ronaldo.
Spain -- Russia (1-0)
After seeing their Iberian neighbours lose to unfancied
Greece in the opening game, Spain started with a determination to win while Russia seemed
a little more cautious. The deadlock was finally broken when Juan Carlos Valerón replaced
Morientes, just before the hour, and scored the only goal of the game -- much to the
delight of the drum-banging Manolo.
Wednesday, 16th June:
Greece -- Spain (1-1)
Spain's failure to build on their first-half lead
through Morientes allowed Otto Rehhagel's Greece to fight back and earn a point, when
Angelos Charisteas' rising shot deflected off Casillas in the 66th minute.
Russia -- Portugal (0-2)
Portugal's two-nil win against Russia gave the hosts
renewed hope, after their opening day defeat, especially as Spain dropped points against
the Greeks earlier in the day.
Scolari had made a handful of changes, after
the disappointing opening game, and was soon rewarded when Deco's ball into the box
enabled Nuno Maniche to open the scoring inside seven minutes.
Even with the Russian goalkeeper sent-off, for
handling outside the area, Portugal couldn't extend their lead..... until Rui Costa sealed
the win; converting a Ronaldo cross, with just over a minute left on the clock.
Sunday, 20th June:
Russia -- Greece (2-1)
Greece qualified for the quarter finals despitre
conceding the fastest goal in the tournament and losing to Russia. Goals from Dmitri
Kirichenko and Dmitri Boulykin got Russia off to a flying start. Zissis Vryzas pulled one
back for Greece just before half-time and Portugal did the rest.
Spain -- Portugal (0-1)
Portugal needed to beat their Iberian neighbours to
stay in the tournament; a 57th minute goal from substitute Nuno Gomes doing the trick.
Group A -- Group B -- Group C -- Group
D
Quarter-finals
Thursday, 24th June:
Portugal vs England (2-2aet
6-5pens)
0-1 (Michael Owen 3)
1-1 (Helder Postiga 82)
2-1 (Rui Costa 110)
2-2 (Frank Lampard 115)
Match Highlights
Friday, 25th June
France -- Greece (0-1)
0-1 (Angelos Charisteas 65)
France looked inaffective against Greece and
paid the price, when Angelos Charisteas' 65th minute lead couldn't be reversed.
Semi-finals
Wednesday, 30th June: Match 29
Portugal vs. Holland (2-1)
1-0 (Cristiano Ronaldo 26)
2-0 (Nuno Maniche 58)
2-1 (Jorge Andrade, own goal, 63)
A Jorge Andrade own-goal, in the 63rd minute,
wasn't enough to get Holland back into this game and the Portuguese defender was thankful
that his team held onto their lead.
Cristiano Ronaldo headed in a Deco corner in
the first half and Nuno Maniche scored one of the goals of the tournament, four minutes
before Jorge Andrade flicked the ball over his own keeper's head, to take the hosts into
the final and Scolari into the history books.
Thursday, 1st July: Match 30
Greece vs. Czech Republic (1-0)
1-0 (Traianos Dellas 105)
A silver goal from Greek defender Traianos Dellas, in the last second of the first period
of extra time, was enough to enough to put Greece into the final of Euro 2004.
Dellas headed home the only goal of the game,
from a corner by substitute Vassilis Tsartas, to set the fireworks off early in Athens.
Euro 2004 Final
Sunday, 4th July:
Portugal -- Greece (0-1)
0-1 (Angelos Charisteas 57)
Germany's Otto Rehhagel became the first
foreign trainer to win a major tournament for another country, as Greece proved that their
opening day win against Portugal was indeed no fluke.
Angelos Charisteas rose to head in a 57th
minute corner from Angelos Basinas as Ricardo tried to stumble into a Greek player, far
away from the goal-scoring action..... but the German referee, Markus Merk, was not as
gullible as Urs Maier.
| European Football History |
Euro 2000:
Looking back to the European Championship in Belgium and Holland.
World Cup 2002:
How did the UEFA teams perform in Korea and Japan?
|
