Greece in Final After Sensational Victory over Czechs

Greece completed an incredible line-up for the final of the 2004 European Championships by beating the Czech Republic 1-0 in Porto. The victory sets up a mouth-watering repeat of the first game of the championships with the host nation Portugal facing their opening game nemesis in Lisbon on Sunday with the Henri Delauney trophy up for grabs.

Neither the windy conditions in the Estadio do Dragao or the rumors of discontent blowing from the Greek camp could spoil the celebration of soccer for the 50,000-strong crowd as both sets of supporters combined to rival the previous night's noise as the home nation beat Holland in the first semi-final.

Both teams also looked to rival the spectacle of Wednesday's match in terms of pace and passion. The Greeks aimed to do their bit by attacking from the off, acutely aware of the danger an early Czech goal could do. And that nearly came in the second minute when Rosicky rattled the Greek crossbar with a vicious volley from the edge of the box as the Czechs quickly showed their own intent.

Swarming attacks force Greeks back

The frame of the goal was not the only thing shaken. The Greeks early offensive plan soon reverted to enforced defense as the Czechs swarmed forward in wave after wave. Another chance fell to Marek Jankulovski on five minutes. His thundering shot was goal bound but for the strong fists of Nikopolidis who beat the effort to safety.

Composure soon returned to the Greeks as they began to put together some well-drilled passing moves in an attempt to threaten Petr Cech's goal. But with the holding Czech midfielder Tomas Galasek a hive of workman-like industry in front of the defense, the Greeks were left to bypass the center third of the pitch with high balls; a plan that played into the hands of their opponents.

Traianos Dellas was having a busy time of things at the other end, coping with Jan Koller. The Dortmund striker was the next to wobble the woodwork when he got the better of the Greek center-half with a looping header on 19 minutes that bounced off the crossbar into the waiting hands of goalkeeper Nikopolidis. Dellas soon passed the giant-watching duties to his defensive partner Michalis Kapsis.

Profligate Czechs see chances go begging

For all their possession in the first 25 minutes, the Czechs' final ball was uncharacteristically wasteful. Too often the sublime movement and slick passing ended with a lazy pass or a crossing of wires. So when Zizis Vryzas almost hooked the ball around Cech after racing into the opposite penalty area, Czech profligacy in front of the Greek goal took on an ominous tone.

Again, the next culprit to squander a good chance was Jankulovski on the half-hour mark. After Poborsky had raced clear and crossed to Nedved, who went down clutching his shin, the Czech defender found himself in a similar position as before. And once more, Nikopolidis was equal to his powerful shot.

Nedved out, not by card but by injury

The gods looked to be playing their part on 40 minutes. With five minutes to go in the first half, the Greek tactics were forcing star striker Milan Baros into a left-back role and Pavel Nedved was limping off to be replaced by Vlad Smicer. The tide appeared to be turning.

The non-appearance of the goal rush the Czechs expected looked to be playing on the minds of their forwards. Once more it was left to defender Jankulovski to provide the Czech Republic with their next effort on goal. The rampaging number six tried his luck from distance this time and rippled the roof of the net without really worrying the Greek keeper.

First 45 minutes end with Greece settled

At half-time, the Greeks looked good value for the goal-less score line. After weathering the initial storm, Otto Rehhagel's team had begun to exert a subtle control on proceedings. Karel Brückner's men, on the other hand, went into the break wondering if their wasted chances would come back to haunt them.

The Czechs opened the second half by applying moderate pressure but Greece looked the more refreshed and creative although neither team penetrated into the opposition's final third with any real danger in the opening exchanges.

What first looked to be the beginnings of a free-flowing attacking showpiece soon started to degenerate into a diving contest. Baros was spending more time on the floor than on his feet and many of his team mates were equally happy to go to ground in an attempt to win free-kicks when challenged. The Greeks were equally theatrical in the tackle as the rhythm of the game began to stutter.

Speculative efforts increase as clock ticks

The first real chance of the half came on the hour. Poborsky's curling corner went all the way to the back post where Koller out-jumped everyone, only to power his header into the back of Milan Baros and out for a goal kick with the keeper stranded a good few meters away. Minutes later, Rosicky had the next opportunity after cleverly making space for himself on the edge of the penalty area but his shot flew high and wide.

The first Greek chance of the seciond period soon came. A high cross was flapped at by Cech as he jumped with Basinas but the trajectory had been changed enough to foil Fyssas who arrived late and directed his own header wide of the mark. Greece had a clearer chance just a minute later. Karagounis drifted across the static Czech defense and rifled in a shot that Cech did well to save.

Final beckons but chances fly wide

As the clock ticked on into the last ten minutes of normal time, Jan Koller had the best chance of the game. After a double-pass with Dortmund team mate Tomas Rosicky opened up the Greek defense, Koller struck his first time shot from ten meters out only to see his perfectly hit effort fly inches past the post with Nikopolidis beaten.

Then it was the turn of Baros. Twisting this way then that, the tournament's leading scorer teased the back-tracking defense before curling a deceptive shot round the crowd of players and just past the upright with five of the 90 minutes left to play.

When Collina blew for full-time, it was the Czech Republic who knew that the main chances to win the game had been theirs. For the Greeks, they had at least 15 more minutes to carve out their own victory after surviving through their opponents inability to take chances.

The first period of extra-time nearly produced the first goal. Cech came out of his goal to deal with a high ball inot the area only for Giannakopoulous to beat him to the ball. His header looped over the goalie towards an empty net only to be cleared at the last minute by a retreating defender.

Greece then had two very good chances to score. Charisteas was caught offside when it looked clear that the Bremen striker would score and then Giannakopoulous again threatened from close range. The frenzied goal activity increased at both ends as the teams went all out to win the game before the possibility of agonizing penalty elimination became a reality.

Dellas then had a glorious chance as he ran onto a high through ball which caught the Czech defense out. His glancing header was not far enough wide of Cech who spread himself to turn the ball away from danger.

The Greek defender then made history with his next header. In the final minute of the first half of extra-time, Dellas charged inot the packed area to direct the winning goal past Cech and send Greece into the final of Euro 2004. The silver goal was the last action of the game but there was still much activity on the pitch as the Greeks were sent into rapture.

The tournament had gone full circle. The first game will now be the last as the hosts take on their first opponents in the final. It's Portugal versus Greece Part II.

Greece: Nikopolidis, Seitaridis, Kapsis, Dellas, Fyssas, Basinas, Katsouranis, Zagorakis, Vryzas, Haristeas, Karagounis.

Czech Republic: Cech, Grygera, Ujfalusi, Bolf, Jankulovski, Poborsky, Galasek, Rosicky, Nedved, Baros, Koller.

Referee: Pierluigi Collina (Italy).