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Euro 2004: When Otto Rehhagel's Greece had been crowned kings

Wayne Rooney's emergence to be a globe star can have captured England's creativity at Euro 2004 - but Lisbon was transformed to the court of "King Otto".

If Denmark's gamers coming off the seashore as late entrants to win Euro 92 was a surprise, then a Greece aspect that had hardly ever won a match in a major tournament reducing a swathe from the superpowers to prevail in Portugal registered a good increased shock.

And on the head of it all, because arch-strategist plotting this most unlikely training course to achievements, was coach Otto Rehhagel, now 73 as well as a German assured his area among the Gods of Greeks sport forever.

Rehhagel's very long occupation in the Bundesliga had shaped the philosophy of a Greek group that saw qualification for Euro 2004 being a triumph by itself even in advance of that superb Portuguese summer time unfolded. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pialaeropa2012com">click now</a>

The purists sniffed that if this Greek staff turned up to play with your again backyard you would be knocked down within the rush to shut the curtains. This mattered not - significantly to Rehhagel and his players - since the fierce defensive self-discipline, supreme physical fitness amounts, organisation in addition to a self-belief that grew in the minute they conquer hosts Portugal 2-1 inside their opening activity took them to one in their country's greatest sporting moments.

England's Portuguese odyssey ended with a quarter-final defeat on penalties to Portugal after a tense 2-2 draw, the job of Sven-Goran Eriksson's team built even tougher by the reduction in their 18-year-old talisman Rooney, then still an Everton striker, having a broken foot midway throughout the to begin with 50 percent.

On the industry, Rooney was the shining star of Euro 2004 but the coaching honours went to Rehhagel. A stern figure who brooked no argument on or off the pitch, he delivered a masterclass in the way to marshal minimal methods.

Soon after emerging from their team by following up their win around Portugal by using a 1-1 draw in opposition to Spain as well as a 2-1 defeat by Russia, the surprises seriously started off when defending champions France - comprehensive with Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry - had been beaten while in the previous eight by Angelos Charisteas's impressive second-half header.

It was a effectiveness that was a template for Greek glory. Frustrate, lead, defend with self-control and win.

The hugely fancied Czech Republic suffered an identical fate in the semi-final once they misplaced to Traianos Dellas's "silver goal" in additional time in Porto.

Even then, the legions next the host nation and 63,000 inside of Lisbon's Stadium of Mild considered Sunday, 4 July was to be their own day of destiny. Not a tiny bit of it.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo and company went a similar way as Greece's past opponents as Charisteas headed the winner following 57 minutes. And perhaps essentially the most frantic finale before passionate dwelling aid could not break the resistance in-built by Rehhagel. Keep on studying the key story

   ?We proved once yet again that the Greek soul is, and always will be, our strength?

Player of the tournament Theo Zagorakis

In line with the tournament, Portugal's fans have been incredibly gracious in defeat. There wasn't a trace of bitterness or ill-feeling since they accepted their standing as victims of an amazing story and accepted their fate with wonderful dignity.

It was a tale of a triumph for the underdog, for Greece for a region and their players. Their captain was a Leicester Town reject, Theo Zagorakis, who appeared pretty much in the dream as he lifted the trophy and was later on named player of Euro 2004.

"We proved once once again that the Greek soul is, and constantly are going to be, our energy," he stated. "It is the greatest reward God at any time gave us. We now have supplied the Greek people in excess of joy using the second. It will be our pride eternally."

And while in the scorers of people critical ambitions, Dellas and Charisteas, they'd gamers who had been incapable to command normal football at club amount with AS Roma and Werder Bremen. The way wherein they were inspired by Rehhagel was yet another from the veteran's triumphs.

Holding all of it jointly was goalkeeper and George Clooney lookalike Antonios Nikopolidis, a trusted last line to the rare events the Greek defence was breached.

Charisteas announced at the Stadium of Mild: "I contact on Greeks everywhere you go to rejoice and celebrate."

And his countrymen took him at his term because the crew returned for being greeted by a hundred,000 supporters within the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, property on the initially fashionable Olympics in 1896.

Tens of 1000's greeted Rehhagel and his heroes since they manufactured the 25-mile journey within the airport on the arena following the gamers taxied as a result of an archway of drinking water shaped by fire engines. Euro 2004: Quickly info

   Staged in Portugal from twelve June-4 July
   sixteen teams contested 31 matches, with 77 targets scored at an common of two.48 per match
   Milan Baros of Czech Republic top rated scored with 5 plans
   Greece's Theo Zagorakis named participant with the tournament
   England defeated on penalties by Portugal in QF
   Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland failed to qualify

In the head of everything was "The King" - greeted by chants of "God is German" for the footballing present that were bestowed on their region.

The ultimate phrase should go to Rehhagel, who mentioned: "This was an strange achievement for Greek football and especially for European football. The opponent was technically a lot better than us but we took advantage of our possibilities. We must have designed it 2-0.

"The Greeks have produced soccer historical past. It truly is a sensation. There are often surprises. Bear in mind North Korea defeat Italy during the 1966 Earth Cup in England. This time we have been the surprise."

And it stays one of several biggest surprises in soccer history. <a href="http://www.pialaeropa2012.com">foto sepakbola</a>