UEFA announced the final tournament match schedule for UEFA EURO 2004™ in Portugal today at a ceremony in Porto which saw the signing of the ten stadium contracts for the tournament.

Committee approval
The schedule was announced by UEFA and Euro 2004, S.A. and has been approved by the UEFA Technical Committee and UEFA National Teams Committee as well as the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). It also takes into account discussions with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Aigner 'delighted'
UEFA Chief Executive Gerhard Aigner said: "I am delighted that the contracts with the ten stadium owners have been signed at this time. It is a measure of the commitment shown by them to deliver the best facilities ever for a UEFA EURO final tournament."

Madail thanks
Dr Gilberto Madaíl, president of the FPF and board chairman of EURO 2004, S.A., added: "I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to all those who have been involved in the construction of the ten stadiums, which has enabled us to sign the contracts and announce the match schedule today."

'Enthusiasm and excitement'
"It is an example of the enthusiasm and excitement that the Portuguese people feel for this great event," Dr Madaíl continued. "For the first time, all 31 matches of a UEFA EURO final tournament will be played in modern and exemplary stadiums, an achievement of which the Portuguese have every right to be proud."

Ten venues
Ten stadiums will host matches in the final round of European national team football's most prestigious tournament, another first for the competition. A key change from the match schedule of UEFA EURO 2000™ relates to the quarter-finals. At EURO 2000™ two quarter-final matches were played each day over two consecutive days, while at EURO 2004™ the quarter-finals will be played over four consecutive days, with one match each day.

Qualifying competition
The qualifying competition ends in October 2003, with the ten qualifying group winners joining hosts Portugal in the final round. Play-off matches between the ten group runners-up the following month will decide the remaining five final-round places. The final tournament draw will be held in Lisbon on 30 November.

UEFA EURO 2004™ final tournament schedule Date Match Stadium, city; kick-off time (CET)  12.06.2004 Portugal v A2 Antas, Porto; 18:00 12.06.2004 A3 v A4 Algarve, Faro/Loulé; 20.45 13.06.2004 B3 v B4 Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria; 18.00 13.06.2004 B1 v B2 Luz, Lisboa; 20.45 14.06.2004 C3 v C4 D. Afonso Henriques, Guimarães; 18.00 14.06.2004 C1 v C2 Alvalade, Lisboa; 20.45 15.06.2004 D3 v D4 Municipal, Aveiro; 18.00 15.06.2004 D1 v D2 Antas, Porto; 20.45 16.06.2004 A2 v A3 Bessa, Porto; 18.00 16.06.2004 A4 v Portugal Luz, Lisboa; 20.45 17.06.2004 B2 v B3 Municipal, Coimbra; 18.00 17.06.2004 B4 v B1 Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria; 20.45 18.06.2004 C2 v C3 Municipal, Braga; 18.00 18.06.2004 C4 v C1 Antas, Porto; 20.45 19.06.2004 D2 v D3 Bessa, Porto; 18.00 19.06.2004 D4 v D1 Municipal, Aveiro; 20.45 20.06.2004 A4 v A2 Algarve, Faro/Loulé; 20.45 20.06.2004 A3 v Portugal  Alvalade, Lisboa; 20.45 21.06.2004 B4 v B2 Municipal, Coimbra; 20.45 21.06.2004 B3 v B1 Luz, Lisboa; 20.45 22.06.2004 C4 v C2 D. Afonso Henriques, Guimarães; 20.45 22.06.2004 C3 v C1 Bessa, Porto; 20.45 23.06.2004 D4 v D2 Municipal, Braga; 20.45 23.06.2004 D3 v D1 Alvalade, Lisboa; 20.45 24.06.2004 QF1: A1 v B2 Luz, Lisboa; 20.45 25.06.2004 QF2: B1 v A2 Alvalade, Lisboa; 20.45 26.06.2004 QF3: C1 v D2 Algarve, Faro/Loulé; 20.45 27.06.2004 QF4: D1 v C2 Antas, Porto; 20.45 30.06.2004 SF1: QF1 v QF3 Alvalade, Lisboa; 20.45 01.07.2004 SF2: QF2 v QF4 Antas, Porto; 20.45 04.07.2004 FINAL Luz, Lisboa; 20:45