Revisiting One of the Biggest Upsets in European Championship History

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The group stage of Euro 2024 just wrapped up and the bracket is set for the first round of the knockout stage.

An underwhelming English side, long-range goals, Mbappe's broken nose, way too many own goals and dominant first three matches by Germany and Spain highlight the tournament so far. 

There were 81 goals scored through the first 36 games for an average of 2.25 goals per match. Perhaps no goals were bigger than the two scored by Georgia in their shocking 2-0 upset over Portugal on the final day of group play.

In honour of the tiny country's incredible victory and underdogs everywhere, let's take a look back at Euro 2004, where Greece prevailed in one of the biggest upsets in the history of the European Championship.

How Greece Became the Unlikely Champions of Euro 2004

As the ultimate outsiders at the start of the tournament, Greece defied the odds to become the champions of Europe. The consensus pre-tournament odds for Greece to win it all were a staggering 150/1.

In other words, if some die-hard and no doubt hopeful Greek supporter bet £1 at the best payout online casino UK on Greece winning, they would have appeared clairvoyant and won £150 when the final whistle was blown in Lisbon.

A Difficult Road to the Knockout Stage

Simply getting out of their group was going to be a monumental task, but one that Greece was certainly up for.

They started the tournament off on the right foot when they defeated Portugal, who became the first host nation to lose their opening match at the Euros, 2-1, before drawing 1-1 versus Spain and losing 1-2 to Russia.

It's never good to finish group play with a loss, but after finishing level on points with Spain after group play, it was Greece who went through thanks to the goal differential tiebreaker.

Conquering Les Bleus in the Quarters

To start the knockout stage, Greece defeated defending European champions France, who had some of the world's best footballers at the time. Names like Zidane, Henry, Pires, Lizarazu and Thurman, still echo through history.

Despite no one giving them a chance to win, Angelos Charisteas scored a header that proved to be enough to give the Ethniki a 1-0 victory.

Beating the Czechs on the Only Silver Goal Ever Scored

Their semi-final match against the Czech Republic was unique in that it was the only major international match to be decided by a silver goal. The match was tied 0-0 after 90 minutes, so the game went to extra time.

It was Greece who struck first in stoppage time of the first period as Traianos Dellas scored a header on a corner kick. The match ended shortly after with Greece prevailing and no second period of extra time for the Czechs to equalise.

Taking the Hosts Down Yet Again

The final proved to be a rematch of both team's opening games in the tournament as Greece again took on Portugal. Angelos Charisteas's towering header in the 57th minute, his third goal of the tournament, ended up being the difference. It was a historic 1-0 victory for Greece as they etched their names in European football folklore. Charisteas later called it "The most special moment of my career."

Greece's success in Euro 2004 wasn't about the individual brilliance of players like Theodoros Zagorakis, who was voted UEFA Player of the Tournament or the shutdown goalkeeping of Antonios Nikopolidis, including his 21 saves – good enough for second-best in the tournament.

It wasn't about an abundance of skill, either. Other teams like France were widely regarded to have the more technically skilled players. Instead, it was Greece's unwavering team spirit, tactical discipline and ability to exploit weaknesses that allowed them to lift the 

They maximised every set-piece opportunity, defended relentlessly and had a bit of fortune come their way along the improbable run to a championship. More than anything, Euro 2004 became a masterclass in maximising limited resources and defying expectations.

Back to the Present: The Knockout Stage is Set for Euro 2024

With group play of UEFA Euro 2024 wrapping up, the knockout stage promises more thrilling matches and odds-defying upsets. After all, if the tiny nation of Georgia can defeat Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal, anything can happen going forward. Here's a look at the upcoming matches:

Saturday 29 June: Group A runner-up Switzerland will take on Group B runner-up Italy in the opening match of the round of 16 in Berlin. Kicking off just three hours later in Dortmund, hosts and Group A winner, Germany, will take on Group C runner-up Denmark.

Sunday 30 June: Group C winner England hopes to get back on the right track after two disappointing draws as they take on one of the best third-place teams in Slovakia.

Monday 1 July: Group D runner-up France takes on Group E runner-up Belgium in Düsseldorf. The second match on Monday is between Group F winner Portugal and another third-place finisher, Slovenia.

Tuesday 2 July: The final day of the opening round of the knockout stage will see Group E winner Romania take on third-place finisher Netherlands in Munich, followed by Group D winner Austria and Group F second-place finisher Türkiye in Leipzig.