EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2004

In 2004 the European Championship was held in Portugal for the first time, and again featured sixteen teams split into four groups of four. The host nation were in Group A alongside Greece, Russia and Spain and their bid for a first title got off to a terrible start. Beaten by Greece in the opening match, Portugal were struggling to qualify for the last eight but recovered to beat first Russia and then rivals Spain. Spain paid the price for failing to win a match that they had dominated against the Greeks, and despite Greece's final match defeat to already eliminated Russia it was they who went through alongside Portugal.

Defending champions France seemed to be heading to an opening defeat in Group B but two stoppage-time goals saw them past England. Switzerland and Croatia turned out to be no match for the two favourites and despite being held 2-2 by the Croats, France won the Group ahead of England who won their final two matches comfortably. Group C turned out to be the tightest of all, with Sweden, Denmark and Italy all drawing with each other and all beating Bulgaria. Bizarrely, Sweden and Denmark knew that a 2-2 draw in their final match would take both through and knock out Italy, and although this was the result there was no question of collusion as both had clearly been trying to win the match. Italy went out having scored fewest goals in the games between the top three.

Group D saw the only 100% record of the group stages as the Czech Republic came from behind to win all three of their matches, including a fantastic fightback from 2-0 down to beat the Netherlands 3-2. Germany paid the price for failing to beat surprise newcomers Latvia and when they were beaten by the Czechs their chance of qualifying slipped away, the Netherlands beating Latvia to go through in second place.

The first quarter-final saw England lead for eighty minutes before being pegged back by Portugal, who then led in extra-time before a late English equaliser took the match to penalties and it was the host nation who crept through 6-5. France's hold on the title was surprisingly ended by Greece, who won 1-0, and in a tense, tight match the Netherlands beat Sweden on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Three second half goals comfortably took the Czech Republic past Denmark after a goalless first half.

Hosts Portugal delighted the home crowds when they survived a late scare to beat the Netherlands 2-1 in the first semi-final, a match that they dominated and should have won easily. They were expected to face the Czechs in the final, but they could not break down a well organised Greek defence and in the dying seconds of the first period of extra-time Greece scored the tournament's first "silver goal" to end the match there and then.

Amazingly, the tournament ended as it had begun three weeks earlier as for the first time, the teams who had met in the opening match would meet again in the final. Portugal hoped for a different result, but they were to become the third team in a row to be frustrated by Greece's defence. A single goal just before the hour mark from Angelos Charisteas gave Greece the title, with their third 1-0 win in the knockout stages. Against all the odds, the nation who had never won a match in a major championship before the tournament began were European Champions.