Euro 2004: Portugal

Links of Interest:

BBC Radio Five Live broadcast many games via the Internet. They provided excellent commentary.

Euro 2004 Portugal: The official site had a live match tracker, current news, and detailed information on all of the teams.

Tournament Schedule

Flanagan's Irish Pub in Bethesda, MD. Big screen televisions and great atmosphere.
Soccer Nation. Links to two soccer-friendly bars in Washington, DC.

North America:

SoccerTV.com: A list of soccer-friendly pubs and restaurants in North America for Euro 2004 and other international matches. The main link shows listings of daily soccer broadcasts in the USA.

Setanta had broadcast rights in this region.

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Game Reports:

Final: Greece, champions of Euro 2004.

Greece Welcomes Back Its Heroes. From the BBC.

International Herald Tribune Match Report by Rob Hughes.

Times of London Match Report by Matt Dickinson.

Photos from the final game. From the BBC.

04 July: Portugal 0 - Greece 1.

The Portuguese attacked, as expected, but Vryzas had an early chance for Greece that was handled well by Ricardo. Maniche shot just wide from a corner for Portugal. The Portuguese dominated in terms of ball possession, but the tough Greek defense, led by Dellas, kept them out of danger. The Greeks appeared to be the calmer of the two sides. Halftime arrived with no score.

The second half began with the pressure on the home team. Deco dived a few times for Portugal, but wasn't carded by Merk. On a corner, a header by Charisteas in the 57th minute beat Ricardo into an open goal. Another set piece masterpiece by the Greeks. Ronaldo have a wonderful opportunity to equalize in the 74th minute, but his shot sailed over the crossbar. The Greeks hold on to win the championship of Europe. An incredible story ends in victory for Greece.

Semifinals:

01 July: Greece 1 - Czech Republic 0. Extra time silver goal.

The Czechs started the game off quickly with two excellent chances. But the play was uninspiring for the most part. The Czechs lost their captain, Pavel Nedved, due to injury. The Greeks played their usual disciplined man to man defensive marking scheme. In the second half, Jan Koller and Milan Baros missed great opportunities for the Czechs. Could the game be headed for extra time and/or penalties? In the final seconds of the first extra time, history was made. Traianos Dellas of Greece headed in a silver goal. Greece 1 Czech Republic 0. The Czech machine was finally stopped. The Greeks head to their first ever final. A rematch with hosts Portugal, who they defeated in the first game of the tournament.

30 June: Portugal 2 - Holland 1.

The game started slowly with few chances. Then Ronaldo scored on a clear header from a cross by Deco in the 26th minute. The goal awakened the Dutch, who began to attack with more precision. But the Portuguese did not sit on their one goal lead, and created several good scoring chances. Figo hit a post, and Van Nistelrooy had a goal disallowed due to offsides. In the second half, Maniche of Portugal put the game seemingly out of reach with a scorching shot from outside the penalty area. But then Andrade scored an own goal to add to the suspense, and give Holland a chance to equalize. But the Dutch had only 7 shots on goal, with one on target. Portugal advance to the final on Sunday.

Quarterfinals:

27 June: Czech Republic 3 - Denmark 0.

The first half was dominated by the ball possession of Denmark, but in the second half the Czechs exploded for three quick goals in fifteen minutes. One by Jan Koller, and two by Milan Baros, who now is the leading scorer at Euro 2004. Four wins in a row for the Czech Republic, who next meet the Greeks in the semifinals. Nine competitive wins in a row for the Czechs, who have not lost a game in three years.

26 June: Sweden 0 - Holland 0 . (AET) Holland wins 4-5 on penalties.

A cautiously played game that ended scoreless after ordinary time. The Swedes defended for the most part against the classic Dutch attacking style. In extra time, the Dutch came close with Van Nistelrooy, but his goal was disallowed due to offsides. The Swedish keeper made outstanding saves. Ljundberg hit the post for Sweden. The game ended, and had to be decided with penalty kicks. Ibrahimovic sent his shot high over the bar for Sweden. Cocu then hit the post for Holland to tie things at 3 to 3.  Van der Sar saved Mellberg's attempt, setting up the stage for the Dutch winner by Arjen Robben. Holland finally wins a penalty shootout after four previous failures in tournament play (92, 96, 98, and 2000.)

25 June: France 0 - Greece 1.

24 June: Portugal 2 - England 2. (AET) Portugal wins 6-5 on penalties.

In a thrilling game, Portugal beat England on penalties, 6-5, after being drawn at two after extra time. Michael Owen opened the scoring for England in the 3rd minute, and the Lions held waves of Portuguese attacks until the 83rd minute. Then Helder Postiga headed in the equalizer. In extra time, Rui Costa scored in the 20th minute, only to see Frank Lampard equalize for England five minutes later. In the penalty shoot-out, David Beckham and Darius Vassell missed for England. Rui Costa missed for Portugal. The winning penalty was scored by the Portuguese keeper, Ricardo. Of note, Wayne Rooney was injured early in the game and had to be substituted. Michael Owen became the first England player to score in four consecutive tournaments. This was the fourth time that England has been eliminated on penalty kicks.

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Group Play:

23 June: Holland had two first half goals from Ruud Van Nistelrooy, and one from Makaay in the second interval to defeat Latvia, 3 to 0. The Dutch qualify for the quarterfinals. Germany scored early by Michael Ballack, but were equalized with a bending free kick by Heinz of the Czech Republic, who were resting several key players. In the second half, Milan Baros scored in the 77th minute to win the game. Czech Republic 2 - Germany 1. Germany is eliminated, and must wait until they host World Cup 2006.
22 June: Bulgaria scored on a penalty kick by Martin Petrov near the end of the first half. Simone Perrotta equalized for Italy, and then Antonio Cassano scored in injury time. But it was not enough to qualify, and the Italians suffer another heartbreaking exit. Denmark, with two goals by Jon Dahl Tommason, tied Sweden, 2 to 2. Henrik Larsson scored on a penalty, and Mattias Jonson scored the equalizer in the 89th minute. The Scandinavians qualify for the elimination round amidst conspiracy theories launched by the Italians.
21 June: France defeated Switzerland, 3 to 1, to win the group. Henry scored his first two goals of the tournament. But history was made when Johan Vonlanthen of Switzerland became the youngest scorer in the history of this tournament. Rooney held the record for only a few days. Niko Kovac scored an early goal for Croatia, but England dominated from that point forward to win 4 to 2. Wayne Rooney scored a brace, along with goals by Scholes and Lampard.
20 June: Greece made history, despite losing to Russia, 2 to1. They qualified for the quarterfinal stage. In another historic game, Portugal defeated and eliminated Spain, 1 to 0, for their first victory over their Iberian rivals in 23 years. Nuno Gomes was the hero for the hosts.
19 June: Latvia battled valiantly, and held Germany to a scoreless draw to earn their first point in European Cup competition. In the best game of the tournament, The Czech Republic came from two goals down to defeat Holland, 3-2. Smicer scored the winner in the 88th minute, and the Czechs win the group with one game remaining.
18 June: Denmark easily defeats Bulgaria, 2 to 0, with goals by Tomasson and Gronkjaer. Italy had one of the best displays of attacking football at this tournament during the first half. But victory was snatched away by a creative flick in front of the goal mouth by Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Sweden in the 84th minute to equalize. The 1 to 1 tie complicates the fate of the Azzurri to qualify. Despite a fine performance and goal by Antonio Cassano, Trapattoni's defensive tactics failed to close the game once again. Vieri missed several open headers in front of the goal.
17 June: England defeated Switzerland, 3 to 0. Once again, the Swiss played the second half with 10 men. Two goals by Wayne Rooney, which makes him the youngest player ever to score in a European Nations competition. France and Croatia drew, 2 to 2. An own goal by Tudor from a Zidane free kick, and then two of the regular variety by Rapaic (penalty kick) and Prso on a skillful strike courtesy of a defensive lapse by Desailly, had Croatia leading 2 to 1. Late in the game, Kovac made an errant back pass to his keeper, Butina, who excitedly cleared the ball directly to the preying presence of David Trezeguet. The French striker was gifted an equalizer into an empty net. Les Bleus escape with a point. Croatia must now defeat England to qualify for the second round. 
16 June: Greece holds the tough Spain side to a 1-1 draw, and edges closer to a historic second round qualification. In the other game, hosts Portugal defeated and eliminated a stubborn Russian team, 2 to 0. Russia played the second half with ten men after their goalkeeper was red carded. Despite another substitute's role, Cristiano Ronaldo invigorated the Portuguese side with a beautiful assist to Rui Costa for the second goal.
15 June: The Czech Republic rallied late to defeat upstarts Latvia, 2 to 1. Germany led for most of the game, but Van Nistelrooy equalized about ten minutes from time. Germany 1 Holland 1.
14 June: Italy and Denmark played to a scoreless draw in the searing Portuguese heat, although there were plenty of scoring chances. Excellent goalkeeping by Sorensen, along with top defensive play by ex AC Milan player Martin Laursen. The Azzurri, who played better in the second half, made a disappointing debut. The Danes demonstrated more determination, and were the better team. In the other Group C game, Sweden outclassed Bulgaria, 5 to 0. Henrik Larsson returned to international action with two splendid goals.
13 June: Croatia and Switzerland battled to a scoreless draw, although Switzerland played half the match with ten men. In a game worthy of a final, France defeats England, 2 to 1, with two late (injury time) goals by the French master, Zidane. David Beckham missed a penalty kick for England, although Barthez made an excellent save.
12 June: Greece stun Portugal, 1-2, in the opening game. A nervous Portuguese side could not get the result. In the other game of the day, Spain went on the attack and won a foul-marred affair with Russia, 1 to 0.

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