Wheel comes full circle

Who said lightning doesn't strike twice? UEFA EURO 2004™ ended as it began, with Greece crushing the hopes of hosts Portugal. In doing so they became the most improbable of all European champions.

Unsung side
In a tournament of surprises, where the poster boys did not, for the most part, produce, it was Otto Rehhagel's unsung Greece team, short on glamour but superbly organised, who took the trophy on a night of broken dreams in Lisbon's Estádio da Luz.

German tactician
Fifty years to the day that West Germany defeated a more talented, more lauded Hungary side to win the 1954 FIFA World Cup, a German-coached team did the same to the Portugal of Luís Figo and company. And the truth is, even before Angelos Charisteas's 57th-minute header, Greece's one and only effort on target, this night felt like a Greek celebration.

Greeks outnumbered
Although outnumbered by at least four to one, for long periods it sounded as if Greece were the home side. Some 25,000 Greeks had made their way to Lisbon for the final and the lucky 15,000 or so with tickets filled a corner of this 62,000-seater stadium with an explosion of Mediterranean blue and white amid the prevailing red.

Cheeky touch
"We can't wait any longer - lift the damn cup" was the gist of what they were singing when Portugal began to lose their way midway through the first half. And their confidence was not misplaced - their side beat holders France and the impressive Czech Republic as well as hosts Portugal twice on their way to lifting the Henri Delaunay trophy. Not bad for a country who had never previously won a match in a major finals.

Ronaldo eager
Greece spent much of the game's first quarter camped inside their half yet save for efforts from the adventurous Miguel and Maniche, Portugal produced little to worry them. Cristiano Ronaldo was as eager as ever for the ball but a couple of crunching tackles let him know just why the Greeks have earned a reputation at these finals for their unyielding defence.

Clever through-ball
By the half-hour Greece had subdued the home side to the point where a long ball was being launched for the head of the diminutive Deco. Greece then started to ask questions of the Portuguese and goalkeeper Ricardo had to be quick off his line to stop Charisteas latching on to a clever through-ball from Konstantinos Katsouranis. The impressive Charisteas would not be denied a second time and he claimed the winning goal - his third in these finals - when he jumped above Costinha and headed into the net from Angelos Basinas's corner.

Dream fading
The dream was slipping away from Portugal and this time no substitutions would save them. Rui Costa came on and his chip over the top put Ronaldo clear but the 19-year-old lobbed his shot high over the crossbar. Crosses flashed across goal and Antonios Nikopolidis stopped a series of low shots but the Greeks could not be broken down.

Striker lacking
Portugal's 'golden generation' will now never know senior international success. It is telling perhaps that when they won their first world youth title in 1989 they achieved it despite scoring only six goals in six games. Without a world-class striker there was no way past Nikolaidis. No wonder Pauleta sat crying at the end. Before this final kicked off, singer Nelly Furtado had got the home fans going with her pre-match rendition of the official tournament song Força. Instead the force was with Greece and the song in Lisbon tonight will more likely be a mournful fado.