Greece at Euro 2004 pulled off the biggest upset in the history of international soccer. Priced at 150 to 1 by bookmakers and without a single win at a major tournament, the Greeks beat hosts Portugal twice, eliminated the defending champions France and lifted the trophy in Lisbon on July 4, 2004.
A nation with no tournament pedigree
Before the summer of 2004, Greece had played at only two major tournaments. They left Euro 1980 without a win, and the 1994 World Cup in the United States went even worse.
At USA 94, Greece lost all three group games, failed to score a single goal and conceded 10.
- Wins at a major tournament before Euro 2004: 0
Heading into Portugal, only Latvia had longer odds to win the tournament. The stated goal inside the Greek camp was modest: win one game.
Otto Rehhagel builds a fortress
The transformation began in 2001, when the Hellenic Football Federation hired Otto Rehhagel. The German coach already had a miracle on his résumé, having won the Bundesliga with newly promoted Kaiserslautern in 1998.
Rehhagel built his team around discipline. Greece defended deep, won their aerial duels and attacked through crosses and set pieces, with Traianos Dellas and Giourkas Seitaridis anchoring a physical back line.
Qualifying proved the method worked. After losing their first two matches, Greece won six in a row without conceding and finished above Spain to top their group.
The opening shock against Portugal
Euro 2004 kicked off in Porto on June 12 with the hosts facing one of the tournament’s biggest outsiders. Georgios Karagounis scored early, and captain Angelos Basinas doubled the lead from the penalty spot after halftime.
A stoppage time goal from a 19 year old Cristiano Ronaldo only made the final score 2-1. Greece had their first ever win at a major tournament, at the seventh attempt.
Surviving Group A by the narrowest margin
Greece followed up with a 1-1 draw against Spain, as Angelos Charisteas canceled out Fernando Morientes’ opener. Then a 2-1 loss to an already eliminated Russia almost ended the adventure.
Russia scored twice inside the opening 17 minutes, including Dmitri Kirichenko’s strike after just 68 seconds, at the time the fastest goal in Euro history. Greece survived only because Portugal beat Spain 1-0 in the other game, leaving Greece and Spain level on points and sending the Greeks through on goals scored.
Shutting down the defending champions
The quarterfinal brought France, winners of the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. With Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry in their lineup, Les Bleus were heavy favorites in Lisbon.
Greece smothered them. In the 65th minute, captain Theodoros Zagorakis beat his man on the right and crossed for Charisteas, who headed home the only goal of the night.
The only silver goal in Euro history
The semifinal in Porto looked like the end of the road. The Czech Republic were the only team to win all three group games and had scored 10 goals on their way to the last four.
Tomas Rosicky hit the crossbar inside two minutes, and Pavel Nedved limped off injured before halftime. Greece held firm for 90 minutes and took the game into extra time.
At Euro 2004, UEFA used the silver goal rule. A team leading at the end of either half of extra time won the match, and in the final seconds of the first period, Dellas headed in a Vassilios Tsiartas corner at the near post.
- Silver goals scored in European Championship history: 1
The Czechs had no time to respond. Rehhagel called it a real miracle, and Greece were through to a final nobody had predicted.
Lisbon, July 4, 2004
The final at the Estadio da Luz was a rematch of the opening game. Portugal had Luis Figo, Deco and Ronaldo, the backing of a home crowd and the motivation of revenge, while Greece were missing the suspended Karagounis.
Rehhagel’s plan stayed the same: absorb pressure, defend the box in numbers and wait for a set piece. Just before the hour, Charisteas rose to meet a corner in the 57th minute and headed past Ricardo, and Greece protected that lead for more than 30 minutes until the final whistle.
- Greece’s knockout record at Euro 2004: 3 wins, 3 goals scored, 0 conceded
Portugal became the first host nation to lose a European Championship final. At 65, Rehhagel became the first foreign coach to win the competition.
Why it remains the most improbable triumph ever
Other underdogs have shocked the world. Denmark won Euro 1992 after being called up late to replace Yugoslavia, yet the Danes still had European club experience and a proven generation of players.
Greece had neither. Charisteas and Dellas were barely getting minutes at Werder Bremen and Roma, and the squad had never even reached a knockout round before arriving in Portugal.
Every goal Greece scored in the knockout stage was a header, and every knockout game finished 1-0. Charisteas led the team with three goals, Zagorakis was named player of the tournament and Dellas, Seitaridis and Zagorakis all made the team of the tournament.
Critics called the style ugly. Two decades later, Greece remain the reference point every time an underdog defends its way through a summer tournament.
Back home, the celebrations were unlike anything the country had seen. Charisteas reportedly had his home village renamed in his honor, and Rehhagel earned the nickname “King Otto” for life.
FAQ
What were Greece’s odds to win Euro 2004? Bookmakers priced Greece at 150 to 1 before the tournament. Only Latvia were considered bigger outsiders among the 16 teams.
Who scored the winning goal in the Euro 2004 final? Angelos Charisteas scored with a header from a corner in the 57th minute. Greece beat Portugal 1-0 at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon on July 4, 2004.
Who was the Greece coach at Euro 2004? Otto Rehhagel, a German coach appointed in 2001. At 65, he became the first foreign coach to win the European Championship.
Where can I watch the European Championship in the US? Fox Sports holds the English language US rights to the Euros through 2028, with matches on FOX and FS1 and streaming available through live TV services such as Fubo. Euro 2028 will be hosted by England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. UEFA’s official website also offers highlights and full replays of classic Euro matches, including the 2004 final.