As seemingly evidenced by the very fact you’ve simply clicked on this text and audibly muttered, “Oh wow, yeah, Greece”, the reminiscence of triumph at Euro 2004 is probably going lodged in a really bizarre a part of your mind. It completely did occur, of that you just’re certain, however within the period earlier than social media the place each sporting happenstance wasn’t being endlessly shared, clipped, memed and remixed, you may’t recollect it with any readability.
All the early noughties triumphs that concerned main nations are clearly seen to you: Ronaldo’s foolish haircut working riot for Brazil in opposition to Germany in 2002, Zinedine Zidane’s brow trying a dwelling laryngoscopy on Marco Materazzi in 2006.
Not Greece. Angelos Charisteas’ successful purpose within the remaining seldom makes the spotlight reels, and Theo Zagorakis is extra prone to be talked about as a pub quiz reply than throughout a dialog about soccer greats, regardless of captaining his nation to Euros glory.
That’s a tragedy – ironic, for the nation that birthed that very theatre style. Additionally they wrote possibly soccer’s finest underdog story.
Greece at Euro 2004: The philosophy
Rehhagel managed Greece to glory (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
The strategy of boss Otto Rehhagel wasn’t something that was massively ground-breaking. There wasn’t an ingenious new setup, or perhaps a generational star to construct a singular tactic round.
What ingenuity the facet did have centred round defender Traianos Dellas – Greece’s system organized themselves in such a means that he’d operate as a centre-back and not using a particular man-marking job, permitting him to determine harmful eventualities when out of possession and in addition extra freely take part with the midfielders when in it.
Greece did that by alternating between a again 4 and a again 5, relying on the opposition. Within the group in opposition to Spain, who had Fernando Morientes as a lone striker, Dellas was partnered by Michalis Kapsis, who caught diligently to the ahead.
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Within the quarter-final in opposition to France, who paired Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet, right-back Giourkas Seitaridis usually moved into the centre – following Henry in from the flank – to share that duty.
Man-marking like that had all however vanished from top-level soccer a number of years prior, because the elevated capability for attackers to rotate positions and discover area uncovered its apparent limitations. However by giving Dellas freedom to brush behind, step ahead and canopy throughout when wanted, opponents have been flummoxed.
The structure
Theo Zagorakis kisses the European Championship trophy (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
To counsel that Greece “weren’t a passing facet” could be an enormous understatement. However, equally, to deride them as adverse or passive could be doing them a disservice of equal heft.
Rehhagel was properly conscious of his workforce’s limitations and had them organised in ways in which masked their shortcomings on the ball. With no technically gifted midfielders or centre-backs fully snug enjoying out, they’d routinely go lengthy into central ahead Zisis Vryzas or Charisteas out huge.
Because the event progressed, they grew to become more and more environment friendly at convincing opponents they have been trying to maintain the ball up, coming barely shorter after which flicking it into the area that opened up consequently. Stelios Giannakopoulos particularly grew to become a potent weapon in that regard.
The one sport the place they actually did attempt to maintain the ball on the ground and play by way of their opponents was their remaining group sport in opposition to Russia, which they misplaced 2-1. It price themselves prime spot within the group, making certain they confronted France reasonably than England within the final eight. They realized their lesson, although.
The theatre
Angelos Charisteas of Greece scores their successful purpose (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Within the knockout levels, Greece refined their technique and went all the way in which to the trophy, thanks to 3 just about an identical 1-0 victories.
They’d maintain issues as tight as doable within the opening half, virtually by no means committing gamers ahead to open up area for his or her opponents. Because the match wore on, they’d work alternatives to cross the ball, then use their superior measurement and power in opposition to tiring gamers to nick a purpose. From there, the store’s doorways, home windows and shutters would shortly be closed once more.
Within the quarter-final in opposition to France, they stored Henry, Trezeguet, Zidane, Robert Pires and Louis Saha out, whereas Charisteas nodded in a cross simply after the hour. Towards the Czech Republic, Milan Baros, Jan Koller, Pavel Nedved and Tomas Rosicky attacked in useless, just for Dellas to go dwelling an extra-time nook. Then within the remaining in opposition to Portugal, a close to carbon-copy nook for Charisteas was sufficient to disclaim Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Deco and Rui Costa.
Had been they lucky? Perhaps. However a fluke? Completely not. Rehhagel made each star within the footballing cosmos align – that needs to be celebrated, not forgotten.
Extra tales forward of Euro 2024
20 years on, the European Championship will head to Germany. Discover out learn how to watch all of the video games on the event, together with particulars about each fixture this summer season.
Squads are being introduced each day, too, whereas every nation has revealed the kits they’re going to be sporting.
