HistoryData
sports2004

UEFA Euro 2004 finals — final game of the UEFA Euro 2004

January 1, 2004

Greece's 1–0 victory over host nation Portugal is widely considered the greatest upset in European Championship history, with the team entering at 150–1 odds.

Quick Facts

Year
2004
Category
sports

Key Facts

Winning goal scorer
Angelos Charisteas (57th minute header)
Final score
Greece 1–0 Portugal
Attendance
62,865 supporters
Pre-tournament odds (Greece)
150–1
Referee
Markus Merk (Germany)
Greece's tournament history
First title in only second ever tournament appearance

By the Numbers

57
Winning goal scorer
1
Final score
62,865supporters
Attendance
150
Pre-tournament odds (Greece)

Location

Map of Lisbon, PortugalMap of Lisbon, PortugalLisbon, Portugal

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Greece, a rank outsider at 150–1 pre-tournament odds, progressed through UEFA Euro 2004 by defeating defending champions France in the quarter-finals and the Czech Republic via a silver goal in the semi-finals, while hosts Portugal advanced by beating England on penalties and the Netherlands, setting up a rematch of the tournament's opening game.

Event

On 4 July 2004 at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, Greece faced Portugal in the UEFA Euro 2004 final before 62,865 spectators. Angelos Charisteas headed home a corner from Angelos Basinas in the 57th minute, giving Greece a 1–0 victory and their first-ever major international title in what pundits widely described as the biggest upset in European Championship history.

Consequence

As European champions, Greece qualified for the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup in Germany as UEFA's representative. Portugal manager Luiz Felipe Scolari attributed the defeat to a moment of sloppy defending. Despite the triumph, Greece subsequently failed to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, limiting the long-term competitive impact of their historic win.

Result

Greece
1–0
Portugal

at Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal

Greece's first major international title; widely called the greatest upset in European Championship history

Timeline Context

Timeline around 200420042001200220032005200620072004 AFC Asian Cup — football tournamentAthletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics — competition at the 2004 Summer OlympicsUEFA Euro 2004 — 12th European association football championship2004 Summer Olympics — Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, in Athens, GreeceEurovision Song Contest 2004 — 49th edition of the Eurovision Song ContestCopa América 2004 — 2004 edition of the Copa América association football competition2004 Formula One World Championship — 58th season of FIA Formula One motor racingBasketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics — Competitive event at the 2004 Summer Olympic Gamesuefa-euro-2004-finals-final-game-of-the-uefa-euro-2004-2004