How Did Greece Win the 2004 UEFA Euros?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 พ.ค. 2024
- 2004 was quite a wild year. Both in terms of football as well as the world in general. And amongst all the craziness, perhaps the most incredible underdog story came to fruition.
Greece became the kings of Europe.
But how did they do it?
Transcript and Sources: footballiconic.com/how-did-gr...
Twitter: / theofficial_fi
If you like these kinds of videos on iconic teams, be sure to check out the these ones too:
Arsenal 2004: • How Did Arsenal Become...
Chelsea 2005: • How Did Chelsea Win Th...
00:00 - Introduction
02:14 - Greatness from small beginnings
04:39 - Unite for a common goal
06:00 - 2004 Euro Qualification and tactics
09:39 - The 2004 UEFA European Championship
14:51 - The Aftermath
Background music (Incredibly talented producers):
Song 1: • [FREE FOR PROFIT] Retr... (Prod by. genewav)
Song 2: • sanctuary - lofi hip h... (Prod. Riddiman)
Song 3: • Video (Prod. Riddiman)
Producer: Tinashe Chipako
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Friendly reminder that Greece has more Euros than England
But England have one more World Cup than Greece
I mean england could change that in a few weeks
🤣🤣🤣👍
@@fryhyh lol North Macedonia is gonna win the Euro.
@@fryhyh sure
You know what? Portugal won the Euro 2016 with the same playing style Greece did, nobody called them "boring" because they're Portugal. Spain was playing for many years with a style that closely resembled the Greek style. Nobody called them "boring". But Greece overachieving, that made everybody anxious. They had to find excuses for the shortcomings of their own sides. Greece won on the pitch, beating the best teams of the time fair and square! That's the beauty of football!
>nobody called them "boring" because they're Portugal
Us Portuguese do consider it boring, and use Greece as an example of how we played.
@@loladas9 so you weren't happy when you won? Or were you perhaps titled the worst team to ever win the trophy , I don't mean to be salty but the treatment between the two teams cannot be compared
Funny how you mention euro 2016 because Greece didn’t even make the tournament
Na. The Spanish football was boring but wasn't full defense.
Though, play a game for a win. Whatever they did, they played for win
Jose Mourinho also did this tactics
And won many. But you can't criticise this tactics. It is within the realm of rules soo fk haters
I call it boring.
I don’t matter tho
I'm from Colombia, I don't actually like football really but when this happen I was 8 years old and I remember watching every Greece game and supporting them with passion, I cried when they won, I don't know why... I'd never watched a big football tournament before and I didn't know almost anything about the game but I felt such a connection with the Greek team, I will always remember it. I wish I can go to Greece one day, ❤️
U have my respect mate. And u are always welcomed in Greece. ❤️
Efxaristume 🙂❤️
You are more than welcome
Dear friend, much love from Greece to you and your country, you are always welcome in Greece, we really like people from that part of the world and strangely feel a connection to you too
A Colombian doesn't like football? sUrE.
In this tournament, Greece beat the host twice (Portugal), as well as the holder (France) and the highest performing team of the tournament (Cech Republic). Otto Rehhagel created a team that was exponentially larger than the sum of each parts. Arguably, the greatest upset in football history. The credit goes to both the coach and the team itself as they taught the world an incredible lesson: good technical skills mixed with iron discipline, unparalleled teamwork and masterful tactics produces nothing sort of a miracle. Hats off to King Otto and his fearless Greeks!!!
Brilliantly put. And absolutely spot on.
They also draw Spain but they lost to Russia somehow 😂
And luck
@@erikthehalfabee6234 luck only Against The Czech Republic .. they couldn’t score and Greece just scored a goal and went to the final
And luck in the group phase obviously. However the video makes a convincing case about the strength of Greece
So let me get this straight. The team that beat the hosts twice, beat the defending champions and beat the Czech Republic that at that time had scored more goals than any other in the tournament and everyone though was the best team, didn't deserve to win it because some idiots didn't think they played a "beautiful" game? hahahaha. Ok.
I honestly don't know if they actually were stupid enough to believe that or they simply got butt hurt from losing to Greece
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Well.spoken bro
Also the only team that scored in every game...
Well said mate 😊
As a Portuguese this still hurts. We lost at home ground. But they won fair and square: TWICE. So it’s a well deserved trophy. Congratulations Greece.
You guys won the cup of Best Euro-Hosts Ever! Every single Greek who was in Lisbon back in 2004 had that to say "Portuguese they are amasing people". In their sadness the Portuguese were happy enough for us Greeks saying "Since it was not us, we are happy it was you". This is why in 2016 all of the Greek nation was with Portugal.
You won it at another hosts homeground 12 years later 💪👏🇵🇹
We in England would call you a Potugeeeser ;-)
Como uma força, como uma força que ninguém pode parar!
All of Greece was glad to see Portugal winning in 2016. Not only because it was a redemption for 2004, but also because we wanted to see Fernando Santos winning the cup.
I am not greek, but I still can't understand the hate at that time towards Greece winning Euro 2004. If you ask me, this is one of the most beautifull football stories in the history of the sport. It's just like a movie, if not better, since it's reality. I am romanian, and I am inspired by this great story to hope that one day, Romania will do something similar and win a tournament, just as Greece ambitioned to do. All my respects and love for Greece and for my Greek brothers (and almost neighbours, we are not that far away from each other).
Side note: I also went to Greece once, it's a gorgeous country with wonderfull people, I wish I will visit it again someday.
Hello from a Greek brother! Your comment is one of the best I've ever read regarding our Euro 2004 story. In the World Cup of 1994, the Romanian national team was amazing and during that era, Hagi was among the most popular football players in Greece. Personally, I really believe that Romania will win a trophy some day. It's just a matter of time and I hope you will enjoy this experience soon. Besides, your country deserves it from any point of view.
@@DimitrisTziounis Thank you for beliving in Romania and for reminding us of that great run Romania had back in 1994. Unfortunately, currently Romania has these problems lately because romanian football suffers the same fate as our country, that being corruption. FRF (the romanian football federation) wants fast results, but they don't invest neither enough money or time in forming players (our last good generation was Mutu and Chivu generation, because there was still that inertia from the previous golden generation). But despite that, I still believe that one day some golden kids will come and save our national team. Greetings again from Romania, my good greek brother. I wish all the best to both you and your beautifull country! :)
That Romanian team was fantastic. The pride of the Balkans. It just needed a bit of luck and a strong Greek defense. 😉
What a hearty beautiful comment.
Be well may your good county’s national team give you the excitement
thanks for the kind words i am sure you will make it too
I lived in Athens back then (just a month before I left forever) and after every game it was craziness out in the streets. Once they passed the group stage, all the eyes were on the cup. That was a memorable summer considering that the Olympics were right in the corner.
To add more, Greece was doing amazing in basketball as well back then. They were the Euro champions in 2005 and world cup finalists in 06. That was probably the best time to follow sports as a Greek.
2004 - 2006 was peak time for greek sports. Winning the Euro, Hosting the Olympics and doing great there, Winning the Eurobasket in 2005 and then winning the silver at the basketball world cup in 2006 beating team USA in the semi finals.
@@wonderlandian8465 dont forget eurovision💀
@@wonderlandian8465 And if you think about it and have above 50 iq you can realise that everything adds up to how corrupted European institutions were for Greece to win these trophies..Think about it..Olympics Euro,Basketball european championship things that Greece will never achieve ever again..Coincidence?I dont think so..I cant believe that a White man like Kenteris can surepass all the people of Color and was never checked for being doped or something..
@@wonderlandian8465 2000s greeks were peak
What a time for brainless national pride and complete selfishness and arrogance in the minds of my fellow compatriots. Not that this existed because of the Euro, however. No wonder how the grexit thriller and the financial crisis blossomed in the years to follow. Today, I don't think we have learnt too much from this time period.
I remember my dad saying “greece will win the whole tournament”...just by watching their first game. I just laughed
I said the same 🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷
Hahaha fr? Its like saying Finland would win the Euro now lol
Like saying Leicester will win the Premier League. Sometimes the little teams beat the powerful teams and that what is beatiful about football.
Your father must be a football genius dude!
I decided to support them while watching first game. Didn't like Portugal and they've beaten them. Also i call bs that everybody hated them. I remember many people cheering them on while the play-offs were ongoing, especially after they've beaten France
I may not be Greek, but as a Sicilian, it was great the see my cousins across the sea win a well deserved Euro cup
We are brothers same roots never forget this.
it was nice seeing the english lose at their own game to the cousins as well. and thus not only have the english got no Ws but the italians have now two
Sicily hellas same blood
Magna Graecia Fratelli Graeci!
I was 7. I'm American. This tournament got my family into football. This team proved everyone wrong and any hater is just butthurt. They were clearly the best team. Just a complete unit full of passion and determination
You are an American and you called it “football”, I’m gonna cry man ❤️
@@panagiotiskakaletris3110 I use both. It doesn't matter lmao
I’m Greek, and when Greece won everyone was sad, bc we are “boring” since we are not that big in football, unfortunately. The only thing that matters is that ewe literally won the big teams, as a country that no one is interested in in football. I’m disappointed on everyone. Literally we won the big teams, wouldn’t you be impressed? I mean, I’m a little bit sad for ronaldo, since he is my favourite player. But they won on 2016 so no problems here.❤
Rehagel is also the only manager who won the Bundesliga with a promoted team (Kaiserslautern in 1998). What a legend.
we 've been lucky with this guy.....and thats what i realise in life ....that everything is about timing
Rehhagel war der beste Trainer den Deutschland je hatte!
Rehagel is a LEGEND
And if i remember right, he won with Werder Bremen in 1992 the cup winners cup.
Never knew about this, what an achievement.
This was a tactical master class from the Greeks!!!
Definitely!
Tactical mastering since 500bc
Definitely yes, but luck was with us too! All our players were on top form of their career this period. It was our destiny and still we dont believe how we did there! We re proud but sad too, because this first place we got didnt help practically our domestic league to be improved.
@@liamyolo5888 luçk was with france at 2000 .italy lost 10 chanses and france at 95 min one shoot goal.greece won 2 times portugal thats mot luck
@@doctorefootball8207 Italy? They were not participating in that tournament. You mean the Czech Republic perhaps
They bloody won and everyone else were pissed
I see this as absolute perfection
👍👍🤣🤣🤣🤣
As a portuguese it was a very sad day. But we not once thought the greeks didn’t deserve it.
Our team was amazing, to beat it twice takes something special.
Personally I was at Greece v Czech and was astonished by the wonderful greek supporters. I will never forget them
You got the prize of Best Euro Hosts ever. All Greeks had to say was the best about Portuguese and how they were, in their sadness, kind of happy for Greece, saying "If it was not us, then we are happy it was you". Amazing people. There is a reason the whole of Greece was for Portugal in 2016.
@@dinos9607 Εγώ ήμουν με τη Γαλλία 😂
@@costenics_sw τι φαση;
@@dinos9607 Και αλλά παιδιά με τη Γαλλία ήταν γιατί που είναι το περίεργο μου αρέσει η εθνική τους.Αλλα γενικά το 2016 ήμουν με την Ουαλία
We love Portugal as well brother
they deserve every bit of it. Like the saying goes..Offense wins you games. Defense wins you championships.
Thank you.
Thank you man 🇬🇷
@@christoxc ελπιζω να μην εισαι σοβαρος λεγοντας αυτο το πραγμα.
No wonder Atlético couldn’t handle Real Madrid every time in the UCL
Attack wins you games. Offense gets you arrested
It always annoys me slightly to this day that the Greeks didn’t get more credit for this. In a competition full of world-class individuals, Greece had the most complete team of them all.
And THAT is precisely the lesson to be learned from Euro 2004. The most complete team won. Not the team with the best players perhaps, but the team that played best as a team won! If you look back they made almost ZERO mistakes throughout the tournament!
Ye the master of fake penalties karagounis deserved it 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@coachfirefly1631 Bitter :)
@@AB-jz9ns they made mistakes thats why they lost to russia.
AUTOOO
most underrated highlight, is how Zagorakis flicks the ball over Lizarazu before crossing to Haristeas. Nobody mentions this magic move
Believe me, we mention it in Greece!
if ti was the Oposite Lizarazu on Zagorakis ..we would speak till now...
Amazing moment!
it was nice! But for me the underrated move was from Katsouranis (21) to the right goalpost . He "pulls" the defensive to him and leaves Xaristeas undisturbed to score...
We were at a hotel during the final matches of EURO 2004. And everyone watching and reacting to the matches were supporting Greece.
I'm from Turkey by the way, and I'm not talking about the tourists in Turkey :)
❤
Love from Greece ❤️
Based
🇬🇷♥️🇹🇷
Cool
Everyone: Noooo your play is bad
Greece: All these flavours and you chose to be salty.
Butthurt losing teams' fans: "Noooo, that's literally™ anti-football. You didn't deserve to win and peepee poopoo"
Greece: "Hehe, shiny trophy"
Everyone: "NOOOO! You are playing boring strategic football!"
Chadeece: "I know. And I beat you"
Europe: Nooooo you can't just play defence
Greeks: haha header go brrr..
I just learned that 217.000 french fans signed a petition asking for a re-match of France VS Switzerland.
The saltyness is unreal...
It's called living rent free in our head.
The real stroke of genius by the Greeks was to put George Clooney in goal.
All the birds had the hots for him back then..
hahahahaha I died of laughter, karagkounis does actually look like Clooney
@@aLEXCSGOGR Nikopolidis dude...not Karagkounis :)
@@Thanos1908 Ναι ρε μπερδεύτηκα γιατί έβλεπα Καραγκούνης memes πρίν
😂😂
Denmark at Euro 92, Leicester City in the 2015/16 Premier League season and Greece at Euro 2004, the holy trinity of football underdog stories.
Yeap, we all remember Denmark as well!
@@grafisteionI still remember that tournament. Denmark was great.
Denmark´s win overshadowed by the selfrighteous ban of Yugoslavia by Fifa, cause Yugoslavia tried to rptect itself against the Nato... Yogoslavia was banned, Denmark took their place in the tournament and won... Euro 92 was a sure thing for the Yugos, haven´t they been banned... Fifa just got rid of the unloved contender, but karma hit back, and the underdog-replacement Denmark won anyway... Karma was balanced again...
This was one of two football tournaments i remember very well. Everyone in Ukraine, Poland, Georgia and other underdog nations ware rioting for Greece because their team represented in a sence their team that was relegated by the media and football establishment to the role of a backdrop to showcase the talent of star teams. Greece gave hope to every nation that did not have a Ronaldo, Zidan and Backham that they can win if they choose the right tactic, stick to it and play as a unit. I was so happy for Greece especially when they beat the „unbeatable” superstars and golden boys. This Euro was the Thermopylae of the Greece team and it showed that Greece had the spirit of Spartans in them. They held of the best Europe had to offer and won despite impossible odds 150:1.
You are aware that the greeks lost the Battle of Thermopylae right?
@@TwelveInchWarrior They had an unpenitrable defence and played against teams that ware on paper way better then them. The way they held their positions and the odds they faced justify such a comparison.
@@orestmakar8562 No i get that, the comparison is apt, its just the wording of your original post makies it sound like the greeks won despite the odds, rather than lose in a heroic sacrifice
@@TwelveInchWarrior I don't know what the battle of Thermopylae has to do with football but... yeah we lost this battle but not the war ;)
This is true my friend. We Greeks couldn't believe that we are going to win. That's why till today we call it ''The miracle of 2004''.
People who criticized them were just jealous. A team has the right to choose whatever tactics they feel is suitable for them. If their opponents can't find a way to break their defence that's their fault.
people critisized anything
Attacking? like Brazil?
Defending? like Italy?
total football? like Holland?
they were all critisized
Denmark 1992? same story.
Yep. If it was your team doing it and succeeding, you wouldn’t be complaining either
@@austin1470 I wouldn't complain even if my opponent did it. You gotta do what you gotta do.
@@hahdanghongha7810 Basically, people who feel like they need to make an excuse. Besides, if a certain style of play wins, the problem is with the sport or the rules. Not the team using the most effective strategy.
I agree.The same with Simeone. Klopp being salty and all that stuff
I’m not Greek but this is probably the best football achievement I’ve ever seen. All credit to the Greeks, they worked incredibly hard and deserved to win the trophy
Thats true my friend but dont forget Otto he did great job with the players and make a very strong team
I think 1992 probably surpasses this, given Denmark never qualified, didn't prepare and didn't have their best player with them. But after that, I totally agree. Such an amazing achievement by Greece!
They were shit
@@corydawodu. so that makes all other teams worse than shit ;) oops!
@@element4element4 I agree, 92’ is probably the most legendary with 2004 is the second most legendary.
I'm portuguese and I was really sad that day, when the greeks lifted the trophy. Today, older and after working more than 8 years in sports journalism, I think that everything was magical and I thank to Greece to have produced this amazing outcome.
Greece was a well deserved champion. And every time I see this footage I remember, with a huge amount of nostalgia, how happy it was. What a Euro. Zagorakis was a beast. Well done, Greece.
2004 was wild. Bremen (where Charisteas played) won de Bundesliga; Valencia La Liga; Porto the Champions League and Arsenal did "The Invencible"... and Greece won against the host (twice), champion and favorites to become european champion. Amazing.
I'm Ukrainian, but my ancestors were Greeks and I remember this tournament well. I was rioting, like many Ukrainians, for Greece because of its ability to pull up surprise despite disadvantages. I'm glad that the Greek team did something for all Greek community to feel proud of. 🇺🇦🇬🇷
My surname is Greek And I never knew much of my past. My grandfather from Greece died when my father was 7.
I hope you are doing alright in Ukraine.
Slava Ukraini!
So you are propaly from Mariupol?
RIP
@@weenawopakumar4724 noone said he d13d.
I was in greece when they won the euros. I'm Indonesian. My family and i were on a cruise and we made a stop at Athens. The scenes were insane. Everyone was partying. I had no idea what was happening at the time, but now I have bragging rights
Selamat datang friend, yes you have bragging rights!
Mantap bro
A funny story that is not well known is that Fyssas (Greece's left back) had scheduled his wedding in a date before the Euro's final because they didn't believe that they will go so far. I believe his wife hadn't any problem to reorganize the hole thing
I mean... If she didnt accept delaying the marriage, maybe not marrying her was for the better
Well, I sincerely hope that you're wrong and she did not had to reorganize her 'hole thing'...
knowing women the way i do! I do belive he is still paying for that one :)
She wasn't gonna marry some fucking loser. If you're gonna get married to someone, might as well marry a Euro Cup winner. /s
The HOLE
King Otto was always particularly good at dealing with underdogs. He proved that years before the European Championship with Greece with my club, 1. Fc Kaiserslautern. The team was relegated to the second Bundesliga for the first time in 1996. The club then hired Otto Rehhagel. The result was direct promotion back to the first division and immediately the German championship the following year. This had never happened before or since.
It's still amazing that.....🫡
The amazing thing he used a similar approach. Instead of buying star players he built his tactics round the average players the club could afford, emphasized their individual strengths, and forged them into a coherent team where everybody functioned 50% above their usual level. It was like every K'lautern player was having the form of his life in this season.
King Otto!You could not be more right my friend!
Something important you missed in the video. First game with Rehhagel on the bench was against Finland where Greece lost 5-1. After that match Rehhagel was furious with some players for not following the tactics and playing for themselves. Some of them were never called up again with the most known being Inter Milans' full back Grigoris Georgatos, maybe the most talented player of his generation. For getting those players out of the team Rehhagel was strongly criticized by the greek media but he did have the full support of the football association. The mentality of the German was not to play with the best players available but with the best players that fitted his plan.
Also leaving out of squad Monaco's (lost to Porto the Champions League final) midfielder Akis Zikos. The only Greek player to have played a Champions League final.
It was fixed, what was happening in Greece at the time?
Sorry I should not have had an option, my bad . FIFA spelt backwards Afif...a thief.
Sorry again...
I live in a suburb of Athens. Here's how it went down. We won the first game - everybody went out and got drunk as we weren't expecting anything else. Then we qualified to face France - so we went out and got drunk. We won that - so we went out and got drunk but it was more difficult now as the bars were getting very full. Then we beat the Czech's and we'd planned ahead and bought drink in - so we went out already drunk. Then we won the final and there wasn't room to go out. I have never seen so many people on the streets - you couldn't move, it was like being in the biggest party in history. I don't remember what happened after that.
Ήσουν μεθυσμένος?
@@user-es4bo3tw4t εσυ τι λες ρε μαλακα
Brother that was an awesome comment, made me laugh so much, thanks for that
Did you get drunk on Greek cough Sirup ? 😩
Eurobasket 1987 & Euro 2004. So proud to be able to live these glorious moments.
2004: Greece wins the Euro in football
2005: Greece wins the European basketball trophy
2005: Greek Helena Paparizou wins the Eurovision
2006: Greece comes 2nd in World FIBA basketball beating also the USA.
In between those years Greek football and basketball teams had great marches in the European competitions winning some trophies in basketball Euroleague, too.
Was nice years and hyped years for Greece. 2004 Olympics hosted by Greece also helped for that hype. 🇬🇷
@@leonvoulgaris322 ναι και? Α πιστεύεις ότι "χρεοκοπήσαμε" λόγω των Ολυμπιακών αγώνων? Φαντάζομαι 30 χρόνια ανελέητης κλοπής του κράτους δεν συντέλεσαν στη χρεοκοπία με τον τρόπο που το έκανε η ανάληψη των Ολυμπιακών αγώνων.
@@leonvoulgaris322 indeed but it was just a timer for Greece's economic faulty policies which begun in the early 90's. Olympics are not just to blame
pou kolai i paparizou me ta athlitika vre zow
@@MrRudeboey όταν ήταν καλές χρονιές για την Ελλάδα βρε ζώο. Hyped years λέω. Όλα μας πήγαιναν.
Evale kai thn eurovision o allos , nai poly megalh stigmh gia thn Ellada thimamai panygirizame se oles tis poleis mexri to prwi gia aythn THN TERASTIA NIKH.....diegrapse to re mlk , ginomaste rezili diethnos.
Otto Rehhagel won the Bundesliga with Kaiserslautern the first season after their promotion and won the Euro with Greece without any world class player. He is probably the most underrated manager ever
Its a misconception that the Greek team played "anti" football (whatever that really means). I watched every game over and over. They played amazing football, if you see the way the players supported eachother in and out of possession and not just judge a game based off of "flashy" goals and tricks (like the media promotes to attract young fans with dazzle). The greek players had amazing combinations of passes and breathtaking footwork that only a true football fan can appreciate. Sadly, in our age of highlights, this somehow translates to "anti" soccer when in reality it was the furthest thing from reality.
It was a victory for a team that was greater than the sum of its parts, they played to their strengths, and they did not resort to extremely cynical tactics to win, those people that did not like to see Greece win are the usual poster boys that only support the big teams.
if you win you win. it's a professional sport not a spectacle, if playing "anti football" wins you a major tournament, than you won the tournament fair and square by skill and teamwork.
Defensive football is normal nowadays. Teams like Chelsea play this way with much success.
Name one star they had?
@@brando7266 don't need too. They played as a team.
What a legendary coach.
Def
King Otto
As a Greek watching videos like this always brings a tear to my eye
We saw all with our team... A European championship and a twice defeat again Feroe Island... But always Hellas Ole Ole 🇬🇷🇬🇷
Ναι
😂😂😂😂
I'm not even greek, and it also broughts tears :')
@@ghjklkop7868 Les goo
I, a German, fortunately had the opportunity to do a semester abroad in Patras in 2004. I still get goosebumps when I remember what happened during and after the European championship in the streets of Patras. Amazing. I learned to love Greece and the Greeks and it hasn’t changed at all. Still love them!
Efcharisto poli for the most awesome time of my life, Malakas 💙🤍🇬🇷🏛
You are always welcome bro
Greece is the most beautiful country in the world
Do u know what "malakas" means ? 🤣
🇩🇪🇬🇷
Malaka you are a good man
I was also there that time!!!
I'm Albanian and I feel happy and kinda proud that Greece (our Balkanic neighbours) won the Euro 2004 (even though we have a political and cultural rivalry with Greece).
Bro thanks but we have no such rivalries you speak off. At least I dont feel it in society.
No political or cultural rivalry for me as well.
Those players were far from unskilled.That generation had talent. Some had reached the u21 Euro final, losing against Spain. Some also played for Panathinaikos that in the early 2000s reached quarterfinal of CL (lost to Barcelona 3-1 in Spain having won in Greece 1-0 and getting the lead in Spain, losing a chance in the last minute for 3-2). They also reached 8 of Uefa cup, losing to Porto. AEK Athens was also the only team to have 6 draws in CL ,including 2 against Real Madrid. Olympiakos also reached CL top 8 around that time, losing to Juventus. Nikolaides played in Atletiko Madrid and Tsartas in Seville, named El Mago for his free kicks. At that time Greece had 3 teams qualifying for CL and teams would also reach top 32 in UEFA.
Πού τα θυμάσαι όλα αυτά ρε φίλε...;;;...Άλλες εποχές!!!
πες τα γιατί πολλοί ξεχνάνε...
Half of that team was from Panathinaikos FC, only one player was from the greek league champion olympiakos because "paraga".
I'm from Denmark and seeing Greece win was absolutely amazing. I like playing chess, so I don't mind if a football game is played out like a chess game. If you can't see the beauty of a tactical performance you should watch handball or ice hockey
Do you think we have forgotten what you guys did back in 1992? They were calling the Dannish players from Mykonos island where they were partying, and these crazy dudes went on to lift the cup!
I am a fan of Bent Larsen, the greatest chesser Denmark 🇩🇰 produced. I fully agree with you, you play physical Sports not just by using Brawn but by thinking like a chess Grand Master.
Im from denmark too. Not a fan of chess but i respect them who does, and i am still amazed how we, and greece won the euros
If history has taught us something is that you should never underestimate the Greeks
Mussolini moment
@@tgalanopoulos2123 some defense line which wasnt even a defense line moment
@@tgalanopoulos2123 also Persians in the past :) "we are many ,you are few ,just obey to us! "
Leonidas and his 300 spartans : No!"
Since they created the alphabet, you should learn how to use the right words in the correct sentences
@@tgalanopoulos2123 this is the GOAT comment malaka
Do Greece deserve this victory? Absolutely yes, yes, yes!! It takes a very shallow mind to fail to appreciate skill in defence. It's a legitimate part of the game, and should be appreciated. Greece won fair and square. Totally deserved. A brilliant team. The beautiful game is smiling.
you have to admit though, that they always shot their own goals and never had to rely on penalty shootouts
As a Portuguese I was very sad, but Greece have my Respect
Many greetings from Athens my friend.
We always love you
@@deathcrow5441 Respect
You got your glory against France in similiar circumstances lol
Well, Portugal was always a good team. It was a matter of time to win a Euro which it came true at 2016. Really liked the emotional Ronaldo at the end
@@denlazar1617 yeah true. Thanks. I think this year we have a chance at the euros because our team is stacked.
I am a Greek American, and I loved ronaldo in. 2004. Didnt really understand how important it was for us to even be in that final as a teen. To this day, I remember my father crying when we won. It is my fondest football memory. Hellas forever.
Χαιρετισμούς στην κοινότητα και καλή χρόνια
I loved this tournament because of Greece.
I love the country and the people.
From a footballing point of view , Greece fully deserved to win this tournament.
They worked incredibly hard and stuck to their game plan perfectly.
Otto Rehhagel was a true tactical genius and knew exactly how to get the best out of the players he had got.
He got into their heads in the best possible way and built a thoroughly strong belief within that team.
They would have run through brick walls for each other and for Otto.
That kind of togetherness goes a long way.
Fundamentally , football is about results. And results only.
Managers like Rehhagel, Mourhino, Simione, Pulis, Hodgson, Megson, don't always get the credit they deserve because their football is tough to watch at times.
But I like it because it's the team togetherness and being the party poopers, against all the odds that can make the winning so sweet.
I remember, back here in Bremen, everyone was rooting for Greece because we all loved Rehagel. Rehagel in the 80s trained Werder Bremen from a club in the second division, to a championship contender and Bayern Munichs greatest Nightmare. And ironically, in 1992, he won the Cup winners cup with Werder in Lisbon, the same place he would win the Euros 12 years later.
It was a Euro that i remember very fondly, not necessarily by Germanys bad performance but by what Otto did for the Greeks.
I am Greek, I was 24 when this happend. Something to remember for the rest of my life. Still I get tears in my eyes. The most amazing goal was the one with the Czechs, I literally destroyed my voice
Εγω ημουν 25 φιλος
Ego imouna -2 xronon 😂
@@zer0751 εγω -1 👍👍👍
Αξέχαστες μέρες 24 και γω. Η μόνη μέρα που θυμάμαι όλους μας ενωμένους, αγκαλιές, παρτι αξέχαστο, αυτές τις μέρες ποτε δε θα τις ξεχάσω, τη κάθε στιγμή που ζουσα στους δρόμους.
Στον έβδομο ουρανό αδερφια.....
Να γίνω γραφικός?????
Τώρα???????????? Και δε μιλάω μόνο για μπάλα😉
@@jimosmor8927 ο χαριστεας σε δημιουργησε XD
strategy, luck ,team game ,full work ,underestimated by other teams . confidence .
Don't forget thw number one. Passion and zeal.
Being underestimated in the first games. I doubt Portugal underestimated Greece into the finals. But heck, what if this happened to mold Ronaldo's personality and make him thrive for more after such a loss, affecting his personality to the man he became right now?
@@mermer2938 it definitely did. He's that type of person. Like Micheal jordan type
@@mermer2938 and I'm a messi fan lol
As a Bolton fan who watched Stelios week in, week out, I would argue that he was as close to a world class player that Greece had. He was outstanding in the Premiership, his ability to consistently provide accurate crosses along with some fabulous goals made him a cult hero at the club.
Yes...He scored in Thessaloniki against Aris, my favorite team, for the UEFA cup, in 2005, 2006, I don't remember the exact year...
Stelios was really talented at diving for a penalty:)
@@betasgr Ακόμα σας πονάει ο Στελαρας ε;
I am a half greek / half german and that was the second football tournament I can remember and this against the odds run is my most vivid and happy football memory.
They hate to see us winning. Underdog stories like this are the reason why Perez’s European Super League would destroy our beloved sport.
yeah
@kraf logam as a greek myself, i am proud of us too
@@vassiliskalogeropoulos754 your country is straight up top tier historical, iconic, beautiful. Respect man
You mean underdogs stories like this would destroy the European super league
@@latl089er naah historically we were top tier, and sure he have some beautiful landscapes but we have top tier problems for sure in pretty much every aspect of life
I am a greek my self
I was 10 when the final happened
I Will never forget it
Ήμουν 5 χρονών. Καλοκαίρι κάθε μέρα στη πλατεία κλασσικά, τα βράδια κάθε μαγαζί είχε οθόνη που έδειχνε το ματς. Ε σε κάθε γκολ (Με Γαλλία, Τσεχία και Πορτογαλία) γινότανε χαμός και εμείς τα σκατόμωρα δεν καταλαβαίναμε τίποτα. Στον τελικό να έχουμε βγει όλοι με σημαίες κλπ και ενώ εγώ παίζω με τα άλλα παιδάκια ξαφνικά να παίρνουν όλα φωτιά και να βλέπω τον μπαμπά μου να έρχεται να με βρίσκει και να με σηκώνει ψηλά πανηγυρίζοντας. Μπορεί να μην καταλάβαινα πολλά τότε, αλλά από τις δυνατότερες "ποδοσφαιρικές" αναμνήσεις που έχω.
@@twisted_cpp γαμησετα φίλε
Τι και αν ήμουν 10 πάλι μικρός ήμουν για να ξέρω φουλ τι γίνονταν
Eιμουν 21 χρωνον... Εμένα στο Βέλγιο... Ανάψαμε όλη τη Λιεγη, δεν θα το ξεχάσω ποτέ, τα τελευταία λόγια μου πριν πεθάνω "Το σηκωσαμε το γαμημενο" 🇬🇷🇬🇷
@@MrZozonis Ελλάδα αθάνατη
Τι καζο τους κάναμε ρε μαλακές τους Πορτογάλους μέσα στην πρωτεύουσα τους είναι απίστευτο
The thing to remember is that Greece came out of the toughest group, played all the good teams, & were very comfortable in every knock-out match. They didn't give up many chances at all!
Angelos Charisteas heading ability is one of the best I have ever seen. He was brilliant in this tournament. Having said that, for a smaller size country the Greeks compete very well in sport. 1 Euro Football Championship, 2 Euro Basketball Championships and a Basketball world cup runner-up. Plus they have the World record for the most consecutive Olympics ever....293 ancient Olympiads plus 2 modern day Olympiads. Pretty good in my book.
They have the Olympics cause they started the Olympics 😂😂
Otto Rehhagel made the whole difference. He brought German structure and order to our Greek soccer culture. Thank you Otto! You are a Greek Hero for us.
Lets not brush over the fact that the greek football league used and trusted greek talent much more than it does now. Olympiacos, AEK, Panathinaikos and PAOK were using MOSTLY greek talent in their teams, giving them opportunities and showcasing them...unlike now. Fast forward to 2021 Aris, PAOK and AEK have starting lineups consisting of ONE greek, Olympiacos of 2-3 and Panathinaikos has a couple of unexperienced youth. What has this obsession with foreign talent gotten the national team to alongside with the countries ranking at a club level? The gutter. When the big 3 teams of Greece used mostly greek grown talent both the teams and the national team were doing wonders and now they are both little kittens.
Ρε ανθρωπε μου τι γλειψιμο ειναι αυτο?? Προσεχε μην πατησεις τα σαλια σου και γλιστρησεις. Κανεις σαν κουταβι που γλειφει τα παπουτσια του αφεντη του..αηδιασα. Ο λογος που κερδισε η ομαδα μας ειναι ΚΥΡΙΩΣ λογω των παικτων της..σε περιπτωση που δεν το προσεξες οι ομαδες εχουν καποια ατομα που παιζουν σε αυτες. Οποιος κι αν ειναι ο προπονητης αν οι παικτες δεν το χουν δεν θα επαιρναν ουτε μια νικη. Τοσο ασχετος εισαι απο παιχνιδια ή τοσο δουλοπρεπης που το μονο που σκεφτηκες ηταν να ριξεις κατω σαλια για τον προπονητη? Σε καθε μαθημα, παιχνιδι και διδακτικο αντικειμενο το 70% τουλαχιστον αφορα τον μαθητη/παικτη.
I am Serbian but my godfather is Greek and i remember watching these games in Trikala city. He told me after the final: now im sure there is god! :D
@@mrloop1530 It's a figure of speech . He meant that he believes everything can happen.
@@poltop2233 some people can’t read.😃
@@poltop2233 and anything can actually Happen with science. But I can't wait til science finds out about the afterlife or as I like to call Spiritual World .
And let me say I'm not super religious but if I had to bet all my life savings or something, it would be that this reality we live in is one but many dimensions or realities
Brate :)
Truly , this is the greatest miracle in international football history. The Greek side truly deserved it. 👍
I am greek and I remember those days clearly. It was an awesome experience. The saddest thing is that the new generation will probably never experience something like this happening ever again.
I also remember Beckham's nonexistent foul. 😂
Greece in 2004 and Leicester in Premier League in 2016 were beautiful stories ... how to beat giants ,easy, without problem...
And Rehagel's Kaiserslautern in 1998.
@@johndeer6543 yes, he came from zweite bundesliga ,promoted, and won the league quick! i remember this performance ,also in 1993 in Champions League when he coached Werder Bremen , won a match, at half time was 0-3 against Anderlecht , and then Otto Rehagel managed to made a splendid comeback , Werder Bremen won with 5-3 in the end ...was amazing
Zagorakis played for Leicester
Iraq 2007
Unlike Leicester, Greece games where a borefest. They played grrat to their strengths, and deserve the 2004 title, but man was it painful just parking the bus
Who ever is from Greece he is gonna understand: ΣΤΟ ΕΒΔΟΜΟ ΟΥΡΑΝΟ ΑΔΕΡΦΙΑ
ΣΤΟΝ!!Οταν ακολουθει φωνηεν βαζουμε και ενα ν για να ειναι πιο ευηχο...Κατερινακι..χαχα
@@cookie-dq6zj Τα έχω ξεχάσει , ευτυχώς που μου τα θύμησες!!!😊
Ωραία
@@cookie-dq6zj Επίσης όταν ακολουθούν τα σύμφωνα Κ Π Τ Ξ Ψ , και τα διπλα μπ,ντ... Άντε μάθαμε και γραμματική εκτοςαπό μπαλιτσα.....Λάθος μπαλίτσα δν μαθαινουμε απλά, ΤΟΥΣ μαθαίνουμε
Are you speaking enchantment table from Minecraft?
as a potuguese man myself, I feel both sad and happy that an underdog like greece won, thats why football is the beautiful game that it is (i've recovered from the win in 2016)
still hurts because portugal could have 2 uefa euros
@@throw210not two, as the 2016 would've won by the host France
That was for thousand years the story of Greeks. Defend for your right with bravery, even with your blood. We've always been a few, but we had many remarkable wins, not only in football.
Isn't greece the Bahamas of Europe,
Που είστε ρε Ελληνάρες! Ποτέ δεν θα ξεχάσουμε αυτή την νίκη.
ΕΛΠΙΖΩ ΝΑ ΤΗΝ ΞΕΧΑΣΟΥΜΕ ΜΕ ΜΕΓΑΛΥΤΕΡΕΣ ΝΙΚΕΣ
Ποτέ ρε μάγκα, ήμουν τριών τότε και δεν θυμάμαι πολλά αλλά όταν βλέπω φωτογραφίες και βίντεο του τι γινόταν μου ρχεται να βγω να τα κάνω ολα πουτανα και να γκαρίζω όλο το βράδυ. Και το καλύτερο ξέρεις πιο είναι? Δεν βλέπω καν ποδόσφαιρο 😂❤️
@@soundart1760 μια φορά συμβαίνουν αυτά φίλε αξέχαστες στιγμές που δεν θα ξανά δούμε, εδώ πρέπει πρώτα να έρθει ένας Τάκης Λεμονής η Γιώργος Δώνης να γίνει προπονητής της εθνικής να κάνουμε Restart, έχουμε παίκτες και εμπόρους σε καλό επίπεδο και ταλέντα ελπίζω να μην αργήσουν
@@user-gu9qj7tw4k Μόλις είχα τελειώσει Γ Γυμνασίου. Το συναίσθημα να βγαίνεις και να πανηγυρίζεις με ανθρώπους που δεν ήξερες και να νιώθεις χαρά και ενθουσιασμό δεν θα το ξεχάσω ποτέ.
ΠΑΜΕ ΤΟ ΒΛΕΠΟ ΦΕΤΟΣ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΚΑΛΗ ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΕΛΛΆΔΑ ΜΑΣ🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷
Greece totally deserved the victory in this tournament. They've beaten the best teams in Europe (perhaps in the world) at this stage.
I love Greece 🇬🇷🇩🇪 and its awesome people!
Thank you very much!
Greece also was the first country to repel an invasion from an axis power in 1940 and even defeat it (sorry Italy). This demonstrated that the axis was not invincible after all and gave hope to the entire world.
@@srfrg9707 what has this to do with football?
According to the most basic football rule, the team that wins the most games wins the tournament, so by definition no other team would have deserved the championship.
@@einundsiebenziger5488 ."..the team that wins most of the games.. etc ."
Only in a league where everyone plays everyone ,not necessarily in an elimination tournament. But I got your point.The team that wins the final is the worthy champion.
What is wrong with the way Greece played?
It was the epitomy of defense.
Nothing passes through. As Gandalf said You shall not pass.
Iron defense played with extreme discipline combined with brilliant counter attacks and some luck.
Beautiful. Top notch underdog story
Im here after the euro 2020 has ended the almight Greece has still more euros than pengland🇬🇷🏆🇮🇹❤
The funny thing is now we have both euros hahaha
@@JONH-fn9mk huh😅?
@@projektraven4149 he's Italian probably
@@lixobounce6588 italy didnt have a euro until 2021? Ik they have world cups assumed they have had euros before 2021 as wrll
Gotta admit, at the time.. I was a bit unsupportive of Greece's playing style. But as i grow older and learn more about football, i realize that it was a true tactical superiority displayed by Greece. Just like the saying : "Offense wins you games, but defense wins you championship". Looking back at the reactions that undermining Greece success, where are the hates for other teams before Greece that deploying similar tactics? Italy played like this for decades, proudly displaying their Catenaccio style and highly organized defense, and yet there were no outcry for that. Greece at the time doesn't have the luxury of endless starlet, like other traditionally top nations. What they have is a group of players who played as a team, fight as a well drilled unit, under guidance of one of the best tactician. They were the underdog, but they deserve the title, without a single doubt. It's the beauty of the sports... Hard works pays off.
Reminds you of hoplites, if one wavers and retreats, the whole line falls.
Im not even Greek and I feel chills with this...Im from Brazil but from time to time I love to revive this historical moment. I remember very clearly watching it in Brazil, and everyone was cheering to Portugal for 2 reasons: the ties Brazil have with it, and everyone considered Greece's game too boring to watch. I really wanted Greece to win, because I wanted them to prove to everyone that a good defensive system is just as important as attacking, since I used to play as left back to my high school team. I hope this next Euro brings us a nice surprise again
I'm from Greece and thank you.
P.S 1 year later Brazil had the best team in years and destroyed me 3 - 0, but I liked it,cause I love football.
I finished school with the European victory of the Greek basketball team and left my country in that 1987 to study in Germany. In 2004 I was still in Germany working in the University and being the only one who believed in a second Greek wonder. I remember that all the staff we used to watch every match together as Germans also love football. That summer was unforgettable. Next year Greece won the eurobasket championship again. Now, Greece knows how to win gold.
From the very beginning you could see there was something about Greece. I bet on Greece from the very beginning but the dream absolutely blew me away. To experience that Cinderella story in my lifetime was awesome. Life IS football.
"If Beckham missed free-kick v Greece, England would have won in 2002" LMFAOOOO I SWEAR ENGLISH SPORT JOURNALISTS LOVE TO HOTBOX CRACK
Great video. As defensive as they were, you still have to give them credit. They could have gone attacking and maybe got to the knockouts but they had a formula that managed to get them to the latter stages and win the final. Don't think the Guardian and the rest of the English media would have given a shit if England had won with similar tactics. In short they knew what they had to do to win, did exactly that and it worked. Fair play to them.
Thank you. 👍🏻
@nicos frangeskou thank you, finally someone who brought it up, italys catenaccio.
My logic about football is simple... if you're top tier team with superstar players and endless talent you have no right to destroy the game and play like this... however if you're Greece that didn't have a single goddamn player at a top tier club (not even one that was a substitute or even the 23rd player of that club unless you count the back then mediocre Atletico Madrid where Demis Nikolaidis was playing with exceptional performances before he got injured) then if you have to play full defensively I won't judge you... you play like that out of necessity, not because your coach is a coward and he'd rather destroy the game with 10 superplayers on the field (*cough* Mourinho *cough*)...
So yeah... Greece deserved every single bit of that triumph... the sad part is that after that triumph Greek Football became the worst it's ever been due to the micro politics of team owners and especially Olympiacos that made the Greek National team a market for managers to sell their players to European teams and the Greek national team became a joke cause Greek football is as corrupted as can be... I'm Greek and I stopped watching altogether... it's goddamn unwatchable... to put it in perspective, this year Olympiacos is first and Aris Thessaloniki is second on the table... one small detail... Aris didn't have any money last summer and everyone said that they would play with the kids from their academy and suddenly they found 5 million euros out of nowhere and brought several players from Nottinham Forrest that is owned by the owner of Olympiacos Evanggelos Marinakis (also accused for participation in the biggest drug import ever seen in Greece with 3 tons of heroin... a case where every major witness has died under unknown circumstances)... so the 2nd team of the table is pretty much a product of the owner of the 1st team... Marinakis turned a bankrupt team into the second team of the table in one night by pretty much paying under the table to bring them players...
Anyway... the story of Greek football is sad... it's unwatchable... nowadays I say I'm an Arsenal fan and be done with it... who gives a fuck about their politics... they can all go hang themselves for all I care...
Just remember that 2 years later Chelsea brought Mourinho to England who was playing exactly the same football ...
And Mourinho for few years was winning everything....
So defense might not be spectacular but it is part of the game and it is effective...
As a Greek I can confirm that we didn't expect this either. Otto Rehhagel really did an incredible work
I watched this whole tournament and I was on the Greek bandwagon the moment they qualified for the knockout rounds. It was truly magical. I didn't mind the low score, it was a masterful feat to keep France, Czech and Portugal all to such low scoring considering who their strikers were.
We were so happy that day for our komşu 🇬🇷
Loves from 🇹🇷
🇬🇷❤🇹🇷
@Oh No damn didn't aged well lmao
@Oh No Yeah they literally hurted my eyes. Slovakia at least got a W and put strong a fight with Sweden but then got destroyed by Spain. I would say Turkey, Skopje, Slovakia, maybe Scotland were the worst.
@@lamprosmerkourakis7283 poland was worse than Slovakia by miles
As a neutral from Scotland..I loved watching Greece go all the way in this tournament :)
Congrats Greece! I’m just learning about this and it’s inspiring. It is the “biggest upset” only for the “big teams”. But Greeks stood their ground and took the trophy home whoever likes it or not. We love to see the underdogs win
The dislikes are from Cristiano Ronaldo, Jan Koller, Milan Baros, and Bixente Lizarazu
EDIT : At the time I wrote the comment, the dislikes were just 4. Now I see that these 4 brought the whole team of theirs to join them ^_^
you forgot Henry and Zidane ..peace
You forgot iker casillas, Petr Cech and Figo
You forgot xavi and iniesta
By the time I wrote my 1st comment, the dislikes were just 4 ^_^
@@Not2MessWith13 now they are 9
What a lot of people forget (or don't know) is that a large part of this squad a few years earlier had reached the U-21 European Championship final and lost 2-1 (i think) to Spain. So there was already a sign of some talent in this team and that there was comming a good generation of Greek players for upcomming years.
Not to mention that half the team played on a Panathinaikos team that made it to the champions league semi final losing to Barcelona
@@5043623 quarterfinal
@@5043623 quarterfinals two years prior and made a Porto team sweat in quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup of the follwing year. Porto team that would win the UEFA cup and year later in 2004 the CL.
@@5043623 actually even winning Barcelona in Athens and having a very good game at Camp Nou, where a goal was needed for qualifying.
@@5043623 and Demis with Tsiartas were part of the team that went undefeated in the champions league group stage. Making 2 draws with galacticos
I'm Greek and i was 1,5 in this tournament so i sadly don't remember anything. But all these years it always comes up in conversations about Greek football or the national team. I never knew how non-Greeks saw this tournament success and the past days I've understood how important it was for similar status countries all over the world. This makes me even prouder
During the finals night many children were "created" if i want to put this gently.
I was little 2004 so I do not remember much. I am Italian and in hindsight looking at the tactical and defensive perfection of the Greeks really is something. I think many italian fans of football can appreciate this
Ahh yes the good old Greece/England game where the referee was just whistling fouls outside of Greece's box just to let Beckham hit them. Surely a deserved result lol
lol
True story! I was watching that!
Yeah I remember that.
stop crying.....thats the game......from a greek guy
At last someone aknowledged that.
I’m an Italian living in Australia and I was happy for Greece and Greeks in general when they won Euro 2004 despite the friendly rivalry between our communities here. Football needs fairytales like 2004, Denmark 1992 and Leicester City.
You are right. Leicester were a World Record 5,000/1 to win the league !
@@Isleofskye god how nice would that have been to have $100 on them!
True Logan but as a Gambler for the last 40 years myself I know the perils. haha
The season before they won it , towards the end of the matches they were 100/1 ON to get relegated having won something like 2/29 games with the bottom 3 teams in our Premiership automatically getting relegated. Miraculously they won nearly every game after that and survived but if you wanted to win $100 on them getting relegated you would have had to risk $10,000 and we would have lost the lot :)
@@Isleofskye I am aware of the relegation system and the seasons haha, I watch EPL constantly. Big soccer fan. Go Reds! But you mean they were 1/100 to be relegated, not 100/1 haha. I get your point tho
Hi Logan. You have good taste but never call it "soccer" to a British person or anyone else outside your great Country, my friend.
No, I was right ( I was a Bookmaker at The Racetracks for 22 years myself !) lol
I said 1001 ON..........." ON" is the keyword. On as opposed to 100/1 against!
Good Luck :)
Απλά το αξίζαμε🇬🇷
Hello from Greece, It was their time. Greece is NOT boring.
I still remember this final. Everyone was out in the streets, cheering, screaming and enjoying his life. Amazing years..
I still remember that I first realized that we will win it after we beat the Czechs. There was NO stopping them.
And I remember getting so drunk on Tsipouro and beer. Smoking cigars and getting laid with women I had no idea what their names were . Good times indeed
I watch the final on a massive screen in the middle of a Greek wedding
No words can describe
Great video.
I remember watching this tournament, and even though I have always supported my country, Deutschland, I was all for Greece.
I absolutely enjoyed their style of play and being an actual team, working together to win.
I know many people who stated how boring it was, yet these are the same people who liked how Spain started the Ticky Tac play, which in all honesty, isn't that much different then Greece 2004.
Anyway, this was a good 2004 Euro and those that didn't like it, even to this day, I'll say this...Fusbal isn't always about the highest goals per game, it's always been about players working as a team, no prima donna's, no superstars, just 11 players perfectly working together.
I was 1 year old back then and me and my parents were in Greece for a wedding during the week of the finale. My parents to this day tell me about the night Greece won, how crazy it was and how much the Greek people celebrated
What a tournament. I was 6 at the time - as a London Greek I'll never forget those celebrations lasting all night long, and how all my friends at school (even the English kids) came in the next day with Greek flags painted on their faces, t-shirts and even blue hair dye. Grateful for those memories.
As an Englishman I remember really wanting Greece to win that tournament after England were knocked out. They fully deserved it and anyone who says they didn't play "beautiful" football is salty as hell.
This was the reason why fell in love with football, I remember every game they played, I was only ten years old when this sensation happened. Praise to that Greece national squad! Much respect from Serbia I hope the national team of Serbia is going to do something similar in the future.
And to the creator of this video I just want to say thank you for bringing back this memories, keep going content is great!
Hey I was the same age that time, and rooting for Germans though 😅 Greece was so composed with tackles and all.
The funny thing about that years team of Greece was that they could easily play more attacking football if they wanted , if anyone remembers the games with Portugal France or Spain is that Greece played quick 1-2 or triangles to unlock their defences and create chances easily with the help of in my opinion the best left and right back in the tournament (Fyssas&Seitaridis)but their main focus was to protect their defence against some of the best players ever.
Fun Fact: Angelos Charisteas was player at Werder Bremen from 2002 to 2004 - the same club where Otto Rehhagel had been chief coach from 1981 to 1995, the most succsessful era in Werder Bremen's history. Rehhagel was and still is a special type. In Bremen he is known as the inventor of the "controlled offense" tactics and for several quotes like: There are no old and young players, there are only good ones and bad ones. Once asked for his secret of succsess as Greece's national team's coach he answered: Before I came, everybody played the way he liked - now everybody plays the way he can.
I was rooting for The Netherlands in this tournament but as they played on the other side of the sheet I was also following Greece as they were getting surprisingly good results. I also have always been interested in underdogs and national teams with less known players.
Sure Greece played "boring football" but it still was fresh to see them beating France who at that point had won 2 tournaments in a row and Portugal who seemed to be the favourites of the majority. Everyone was talking about Ronaldo, Figo and Rui Costa. I had nothing against Figo and Rui Costa but even 18 years ago Ronaldo was something I did not like. Sure he could already play back then but how he behaved and all that...I just had to hope his team would not win.
So I was glad to see Greece win! It was the championship of tactics and heart which showed the games are won on the pitch and not by the more famous names.
lov your words man.....as a greek ...growing in 80s...my best teams in my youth was nederland of 88 ...and atlanta hawks in the nba.( i had jerseys of marco van basten and dominic wilkins) I also leaved in Holland and my first son was born in roosendaal.....always love the dutch..🧡🖤🧡🖤
@@barrylird6853 Quite a funny coincidence as Dominique Wilkins is also one of my all time favourite basketball players :D I'm a tad jealous you have/had his jersey.
Ronaldo was a kid back then, what could he have done for you not wanting Portugal to win.
That portuguese teams, the golden generation, figos and Rui costas generation was One go the best squads in national football if anything its a tragedy the ended trophyless, more trágic that their beautiful football won them nothing, and Portugal ended up being european Champion with a much weaker Squad playing the same type of negative football that robbed them of winning euro 2004 at their own home.
Now dont misunderstand me, greece in 2004 is the biggest national football team achievement ever. But the portuguese golden generation, was amazing, Ronaldo was not the player he became later, he was not even the close to being the best player on the Squad, not even in 2006, Ronaldo only Rose to the top of portuguese national football in euro 2008.
@@AquadesignAquascaping yell at others and complain all the time
Ronaldo was 19 back then
At the start of the cup my dad put $5 on Greece to win. I remember telling him they were paying $251 / 1 for a reason.
I’ll never forget his celebration when that goal was scored
This a story of unity, pure passion, teamwork and togetherness. They were not the most talented team or the most fun team to watch but they played their hearts out. This is one of the greatest achievements in the history of sports. Sometimes you just need to believe in your self and everything can be possible. Great memories. Nice work!!!
Hard fought and well deserved. Congrats Greece!
My dad was one of the Greek members of a French embassy related groups, promoting French languange in Greece. They were invited to a reception were many members of the French community, and of the French embassy in Athens would watch the match. There were about 50 French and 6 Greeks there. When Greece scored that final goal, 6 people were cheering like crazy while the rest had their heads bowed. Good times. :)
It seems very silly to encourage Greeks to speak French. English or Mandarin Chinese would be much more practical.
Well you can easily speak all three foreign languages if you have a moderately functioning brain.