Euro 2004 in Portugal

Euro 2004 was the 12th European Football Championship. It was held in Portugal and used the same system as Euro 1996 and 2000, a 16 team format with four groups of four teams competing. The host Portugal kicked off the tournament against Greece it wasn't a good start by Portugul they lost 2-1. Even though they lost their first game they still topped group A with Greece finishing a lucky second.Group B was not much of a contest France and England making it through quite easily on 7 and 6 points with Croatia and Switzerland getting a combined 3 points a poor effort. Group C was another story it was a very tight group with 3 teams finishing on 5 points Sweden and Denmark made it through with the Euro 2000 finalists Italy missing out. Group D saw the Czech Republic and the Netherlands go through on 9 and 4 points.

UEFA Euro 2004 Knockout Stages

Portugal opened the Quarter finals against England in front of a massive 65,000 crowd and both teams did not disappoint. Michael Owen scored a very early goal only 3 minutes in to put England in front. England tried hard to hold on to the lead but couldn't Postiga scoring a goal in the 84th minute for Portugal sending the game to extra time. There was a goalless first period of extra time and the game looked like going to penalties but Portugal toughed it out and scored in the 110th minute off the boot of Rui Costa. England did not give up and Lampard scored in the 115th minute sending the game to penalties. David Beckham the English hero missed the opening penalty this set the scene for England who ended up losing it 6-5. The Greeks got up 1-0 over the Euro 2000 champions France, Sweden and the Netherlands toughed out a 0-0 draw with the Netherlands winning in a penalty shoot-out 4-5 and the Czech Republic had an easy 3 goal win over Denmark with all the goals coming in the second half Koller scored 1 and Baros bagged 2.

The Semi Finals were Portugal vs Netherlands and Greece vs Czech Republic. The hosts played extremely well in their semi final kicking a goal in the 26th minute C.Ronaldo was the scorer. They started the second half well and got a goal in the 58th minute off the boot of Maniche this looked like the sealer but then Portugal kicked an own goal Andrade putting it in his own keepers net!. This put the pressure right back on Portugul but they were able to defend their lead and win 2-1. In the other semi final the Czech Republic and Greece played out a 0-0 draw so the game went to extra time. Greece got the upper hand and scored right at the death in the 1st period of extra time. Silver goal rule applied so Greece were the winners and off to the final against Portugal who they beat in their first group game 2-1 could they back that up? or would Portugal win the Euro Tournament as hosts?

Highlights from Euro 2004

2000 UEFA European Championship Final at Estadio da Luiz

4th of July 2004, Estadio da Luiz, Lisbon. Portugal took on Greece in a repeat of the opening game of the tournament. It was a tough match as any final should be with plenty of fans at the game a near capacity crowd of 62,865. The first half was a battle and nobody could score but the second half was different Greece came out firing and scored in the 57th minute Charisteas was the scorer. This was his second goal in the knockout stages of the tournament he put one in against France to win that game 1-0 and did the same in the final. Portugal couldn't score and the game finished 1-0 Greece had won the title. The UEFA player of the tournament was Theodoros Zagorakis and the Golden Boot was awarded to Milan Baros who scored 5 goals.