Reminiscing of Euro 2004
With Euro
2016 just round the corner and excitement growing I caught myself thinking
about the Tournaments of the past. I can remember the great French teams with
their perfect balance of power, pace and skill. The tactical and experienced Italian teams with veterans like
Maldini and Del Piero, I remember the fantastic Spain team of late winning 3
tournaments on the bounce with pass and move total football that revolutionised
international football, with players like Xavi and Iniesta. But the best
triumph in the European championship I’ve ever witnessed was Otto Rehhagels
Greece team of 2004. No superstars, no great football tradition to look back
and draw strength from, no expectation and above all else no world class
individuals that it usually takes to win major tournaments.
What
Rehhagels team did have was togetherness, organisations, mental strength, and
an experienced couch that had managed several teams in the Bundesliga. But it
was the power and sheer determination of the Greece team that the tournament
success was built on. So dangerous from
set pieces, so strong at defending their own penalty area, I can remember every
time I watched the Greek goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis, I was sure he had a
mistake in him, but somehow everything came together for them in Portugal and
they beat the hosts in the first and last game of the tournament. Deserved
winners, not the prettiest team you’ll ever see. I don’t think anyone could
grudge them winning that tournament, I put the Greece Euro 2004 win,
masterminded my Otto Rehhagel downnas the best football achievement I’ve
witnessed in my time as a fan. How great would it be to see another upset in
France this summer?
There’s something great about sport when the underdog manages to defy all odds and win, that is of course when it’s not against our own team. If this tournament is half as good as the World Cup in Brazil 2014, we are in for a treat. So when your down the bookies putting on your bets for the tournament winners and your about to put a score next to France or Germany, just remember the Greek side of 2004. An underdog might just be worth a few quid!
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