Portugal 0, Greece 1 - So miracles do happen, after all. The year of the underdog was taken to an incredible extreme as Greece completed one of the biggest upsets in international football last night to lift the Euro 2004 trophy. Whereas Porto clinched the Champions League against all the odds, this time Greece was the word. Striker Angelos Charisteas, the man with the golden boots, headed home the 57th-minute winner as the nation of the "golden generation" suffered extreme pain as their team froze on the big stage. And so a team which had entered the competition as 80-1 outsiders, without a single victory in a major tournament before, produced a truly heroic display to prevail in Lisbon. It is not the fault of Greece's German coach Otto Rehhagel that he has conjured a notably efficient team out of relatively meagre resources. And it is not his responsibility that mediocrity seems to rule football right now, with the power of the team greater than that of the individual. Faced with what is, in truth, an average Greek side - beaten in the group stages by Russia after all - the supposed might of Portugal, Spain, France and the Czech Republic were found wanting. And none more so than Portugal in a desperately poor final display. For this was just as much about the way in which Portugal's supposed star players - Luis Figo, Deco and Cristiano Ronaldo - all failed to deliver when it mattered most. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari may have led Brazil to the World Cup two years earlier, but this time his team were a shadow of the side who had previously overcome England and Holland. With Konstantinos Katsouranis keeping a close eye on playmaker Deco, Portugal's woes were summed up when Miguel and Pauleta collided in going for the same cross. If anything, Scolari's side became more predictable and ponderous as the first-half endured. Even the home fans were joining their team in becoming muted, compared to their vociferous counterparts. Their problems continued as injury forced off Miguel two minutes before the break, bringing on Chelsea's signing, Paulo Ferreira, whose mistake had handed Greece their first goal three weeks ago. Finally, Greece exacted full punishment. The attacking spark came from the superb Georgios Seitaridis, who charged down the right flank as if his life depended on it to win a corner. From Angelis Basinas' dead-ball delivery, Charisteas stole in unmarked to meet the ball and head powerfully past Ricardo. With Ronaldo's shot being parried by goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis, Scolari needed inspiration - and quickly. He duly turned to the veteran figure of Rui Costa, replacing defensive midfielder Costinha with 30 minutes still left, while Nuno Gomes soon joined him. Figo's shot was saved, Ronaldo beat the offside trap but could not control his finish and then had another shot blocked by Traianos Dellas. Ricardo Carvalho's effort was also saved and Figo came agonisingly close, while Greece tried to threaten on the break. It was, admittedly an anti-climax to the tournament, but the truth was that Greece were, as in the opening game, quite simply the better side on the day. In fact, perhaps the greatest shock of all, when the life had drained out of a vapid Portuguese side and the Greeks had sunk to their knees in triumph, was just how little a surprise it actually felt at all. | 
