Greece are European Champions 2004!

Greece were sensationally crowned European Champions 2004 after a grinding and suffocating 1-0 victory against hosts Portugal in the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon on Sunday night.

Despite the remarkable final result, the game itself was hardly an end indicative of a tournament that had produced some magical moments and one which will go down in soccer history as one of the most successful -- and unbelievable -- European Championships ever.

Regardless of the manner in which it was played, the result of the match was, beyond any doubt, an absolutely historical one.

When Theodoros Zagorakis held the Henri Delauney trophy aloft in the balmy Lisbon night air, it heralded an amazing closing act to three weeks of drama, agony and ecstasy which had seen the order of European soccer nations turned upside down. It was a surprising final, given the two teams contesting it and the teams watching it from home, but one that bore all the hallmarks of every Greece game seen at these championships: grinding defense offset with a killer blow.

A more magical final on paper one could not imagine. The hosts against the most unfancied team. Portugal had been carried on their way to the final on a wave of national pride and expectation as their performances grew in stature. The Greeks had upset the soccer hierarchy on their way to the final, dispatching previous holders France and the much favored Czech Republic. The scene was set for a potentially glorious spectacle: the home side versus the underdogs.

The match started as if not just the trophy but the lives of all those on the pitch depended on the outcome. Portugal began with a feverish pace but chose to build attacks rather than push to the very heart of the Greek defense. The hosts tested both flanks to no avail in the first ten minutes as they probed the opposition for weaknesses.

Greece were man-marking Pauleta and Deco as the striker and playmaker were shadowed across the pitch in every offensive move. The Greeks, however, were having more trouble dealing with Ronaldo and Figo who were swapping flanks at will and driving down the bylines when the opportunity arose.

Chances are few and far between

Ronaldo had the first attempt on goal in the 13th minute but Nikopolidis was equal to his low punt from just inside the area. Maniche was next, taking the ball out of his feet on the edge of the penalty box and whipping a low shot which the Greek keeper did well to touch round the post.

While wave upon wave of Portuguese attack broke on the rocks of Greece's defense, the Greek attackers began to push their own case for the opening goal. Some great running from Setaridis broke open Portugal's midfield stranglehold and his smart ball to Charisteas released the gangly striker on goal. Unfortunately for Greece, the ball drifted away and was easily cleared by Ricardo.

Greece begin to turn the screw

As the first half approached the 30 minute mark, the python tactic of Greece's defense seemed to go into overdrive as the game struggled to raise itself and the pulse of anyone in the Stadium of Light. With two lines of solid white keeping the increasingly frustrated red shirts at bay, there was a rash of unnecessary fouls and free kicks.

Miguel, who had been one of Portugal's brightest stars of the opening exchanges with driving runs down the right flank, sustained a blow to the chest around the 38th minute and, although he came back on, the right-back was soon off the pitch again. His replacement, Paulo Ferreira joined the ranks of Portuguese players being suffocated by the Greek tactics.

While shutting up shop at one end, the Greeks launched hopeful scud-like balls into Ricardo's area at the other with no attacker in sight as the game ground to a close for the hal-time break.

Portugal chasing the game

The second half began with very little hope of the explosive element of the Portuguese side being allowed to spew forth. The hosts looked to start the second period with more waves of attacks but found that the Greeks were even more resolute than before the break.

Deco began showing his fast feet but when his industry came to nothing, he took to the ground looking for a penalty. The first time looked like a bookable offence, the second looked like a genuine claim but each time, the German referee waved play on.

Charisteas heads Greece in front

Then on 57 minutes, Greece struck. After suffocating their opponents, the snake turned and took a huge bite. After Seitaridis, who had tormented Portugal down the right, did brilliantly to win Greece's first corner of the final. Charisteas rose above the Portugal defence to head past Ricardo, who failed to deal with Basinas' cross.

The hosts were rocked and never really recovered. In the immediate aftermath of the goal, Ronaldo could have put them on an equal footing but his vicious shot on the turn was pummeled away by Nikopolidis.

As the clock ticked away, Portugal became increasingly frustrated by the deep defending. The forward line pressed further and further upfield leaving acres of space ahead of Ricardo in the Portugal goal.

The tactic almost paid off. With one minute remaining, Figo found himself in space and twisted free to place a shot just centimeters away from being an equalizer. But with the chance, so went the hopes of the host nation.

New champions claim their prize

Greece played out the last minutes of added time, taking the ball into dead ends and forcing the Portuguese to snap at the heels of the champions-in-waiting. When the final whistle went, the faces of the teams told totally different stories.

There in tears were the hosts. For the likes of Figo and Rui Costa, the "golden generation" had yielded nothing. For the new faces, there would be other chances but that was hardly any comfort at all.

In contrast, disbelief mixed with ecstatic celebration as Greece found themselves higher than Mount Olympus. Greece were European Champions.