Host nation Portugal's dream of winning a first major trophy turned into a
nightmare when they were humbled by Greece in the opening game of Euro 2004.
Portugal looked rattled from the first minute to the last against a Greece
side that was inventive, concise and predatory - all words that could not apply
to the host nation who were all fingers and thumbs at the Estadio do Dragao.
The Greeks were considered the weakest team in Group A by most pundits and
with games against Russia and Spain to come it will now be very difficult for
the host nation to reach the quarter-finals.
Georgios Karagounis gave Greece the lead with six minutes on the clock when he
took advantage of hesitant defending.
And the clincher - a penalty from Angelis Basinas - came early in the second
period after another self-inflicted blow, a foul by substitute Cristiano Ronaldo
on Georgios Seitaridis.
Ronaldo, who nonetheless looked his side's most dangerous player, made partial
amends with a headed goal deep into injury time but there was not enough time
left for the hosts to complete the salvage job.
Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's decision to introduce Deco and Cristiano
Ronaldo for Rui Costa and Simao Sabrosa had followed an abject first-half
performance by Portugal.
Portugal is a football-mad country at the best of times but in the build-up to
the biggest sports event ever staged on Portuguese soil the attention has
reached fever pitch.
Three times semi-finalists in major tournaments they have never reached a
final but hopes had been high that with Brazil's World Cup winning boss Scolari
in charge that the winning habit would catch on.
However, from the moment Italian referee Pierluigi Collina blew the first
whistle the hosts looked nervous and within a minute a cross from Zisis Vryzas
went just behind the dangerous Angelos Charisteas.
Portugal were making unforced errors and after only six minutes Greece made
them pay for their indecision.
Karagounis picked up the ball in midfield and ran unopposed towards the
penalty area before putting a right-footed shot just inside the right-hand post
of Ricardo.
The Greek fans celebrated wildly as Karagounis ran towards them and the
Portuguese fans were momentarily silenced.
Greece did not rest on their laurels and then Charisteas missed a chance when
he fired wide after more defensive indecision by Jorge Andrade and Costinha.
Greece were relishing the occasion and a sweeping move saw Vryzas find
Panagiotis Fyssas who volleyed wide of the target.
Andrade fired wide for Portugal and then Simao almost released Pauleta whose
first touch let him down after he had got the wrong side of his marker Traianos
Dellas.
Portugal were at sixes and sevens and Costinha's name was taken by Collina for
an unnecessary challenge.
Charisteas headed over from a Stelios Giannakopoulos corner and a minute later
he was again allowed to run at the defence although Ricardo managed to save his
left-footed shot from outside the box.
Andrade was lucky to escape a caution at least for what looked a cynical foul
on the dangerous Charisteas whose foraging runs were making him a handful.
Karagounis was then booked by Collina less than a minute later for making his
feelings known.
Portugal were largely reduced to long-range shooting with Rui Costa firing
over from a good 35 yards and Luis Figo's free-kick accurate but no problem for
Nikopolidis.
Scolari made his double change at the interval but it immediately backfired on
the man who led Brazil to World Cup glory in Japan two years ago.
Seitaridis, playing on his new home ground after moving to Porto, burst into
the area and tumbled under a challenge from Ronaldo.
Collina pointed to the spot and Basinas sent Ricardo the wrong way with a
penalty stroked with coolness personified into the roof of the net.
That was a hammer blow to the Portuguese who were clearly knocked back on
their heels and several embarrassing errors by the likes of Ronaldo and Maniche
were roundly jeered by the fans.
Greece, humiliated 10 years ago in their last major appearance at the 1994
World Cup in the United States, were in contrast looking assured and relishing
the occasion on what will be a famous day for football in the country.
Their fans exulted with "oles" as they passed the ball around while the
Portuguese looked lost.
Ronaldo, determined to make amends, was producing some nice tricks on the left
but when he did get the ball into the danger zone no-one was there to get on the
end.
The introduction of Nuno Gomes for Costinha was Scolari's last gamble while
Rehhagel made another change with Demis Nikolaidis on for Stelios
Giannakopoulos.
Portugal never gave up and then got on the scoresheet at last when Ronaldo
headed Luis Figo's corner into the net but they had left it to late and Collina
brought down the curtain on an awful day for the hosts.
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