Portugal were a nation of buccaneering adventurers, Greece a land of intellectual philosophers.
And several centuries after their historic peaks, the two sides lived up to their antecedents in the opening game of Euro 2004.
The Portuguese sailed back and forth crewed by a team of attackers, Luis Figo, Rui Costa and Pauleta.
The Greeks came with a gameplan honed by rigorous analysis - and they won the argument at the Estadio do Dragao.
They had carefully thought out the best way of the deflating the hosts' title optimism:
1 Score early. Georgios Karagounis solved the conundrum by hammering a low shot past Ricardo in the home goal after just seven minutes and the home side and their fans were on edge afterwards.
2 Get everyone behind the ball. Thereafter, the Greeks defended like Trojans and in Trianos Dellas had a real colossus at the back.
3 Take your chances. With Portugal regrouping after a clutch of half-time changes, Georgios Seitaridis charged into the penalty area and had his heels clipped by Cristiano Ronaldo. Angelos Basinas made no mistake from the spot to make it 2-0.
It may not have been as complex as Pythagoras' theorum but this strategy ensured the so-called outsiders were halfway to reaching the quarter-finals.
For Portugal's 'Golden Generation', it was a lesson that may live to haunt them.
When Figo, Rui Costa, Fernando Couto and Co won youth championships galore a decade or so ago, it was only a matter of time before they took their success to the senior stage.
But in a land whose main commodity is excellent matured wine, the 'Golden Generation' has failed to get better with age.
Their ability is unquestioned but the feeling is now they may never find the formula for success.
Even hiring World Cup-winning coach 'Big Phil' Scolari has not done the trick.
They did grab a late consolation and the introduction of Porto playmaker Deco and goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo lifted a pedestrian performance.
Rui Costa made way for Deco here and Couto may also have to make way for another generation next time if Portugal are to salvage the European Championship campaign on their own soil.
Their neighbours Spain have had one 'golden generation' after another but no major trophy in the last 40 years.
They could not afford to make the same mistake as Portugal against the depleted Russians and cometh the hour, cometh the Juan.
Substitute Juan Carlos Valeron needed less than a minute after replacing Fernando Morientes to slide home the winning goal in a match the Spaniards had dominated.
Real Madrid often exert an unhealthy hold over Spanish football and coach Inaki Saez chose to start with out-of-form Raul and out-on-loan Morientes from the country's biggest club.
Both failed to convert chances created by the lively wingers Vicente and Joseba Etxeberria and Russia started to get a bit of hope.
But Deportivo's Valeron gave Saez a selection dilemma for the second match with the Greeks and Atletico hitman Fernando Torres caused enough trouble late on to get Roman Sharonov sent off for a second yellow.
Both could be in the coach's mind for the future and Spain could still go a long way with a tide of confidence behind them.
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