The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly called Euro 2004, was held in Portugal between June 12 and July 4, 2004. The UEFA European Championship is a quadrennial football competition between national teams organised by UEFA, the governing body in Europe. This was the first time that the competition was held in Portugal, and UEFA considered the tournament "the best ever". This was mostly due to the high level of football played, big surprises (Germany, Italy and Spain were knocked out during the group stage, title-holders France were sent home by unfancied Greece, and hosts Portugal managed a winning streak towards the final following their opening defeat, beating England and Netherlands).

For the first time, the final featured the same teams as the opening match, with the hosts losing both of them, also for the first time.

The final was almost a replay of the opening game: the hosts Portugal versus Greece. Greece won 1-0 with a single goal from a corner via Angelos Charisteas' head in the 57th minute. The success of Greece, who had never won a single match in their previous appearances in any finals tournament, was totally unexpected (Bloomberg reports that UK bookmakers gave them 100-1 odds at winning prior to the tournament), but their organisation, passing ability and solid defensive play took their opponents and the rest of the football world by surprise.

During the opening ceremony, the Portuguese portrayed a ship, symbolizing the voyages of the Portuguese explorers, sailing through a sea which gave place to the flags of all competing countries. Such was the enthusiasm that overtook the Greek fans that the ship became the symbol of the Greek victory, as Greeks chanted for the "Pirate Ship", as the Greek National Team was instantly named, into the early morning hours.

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