Portugal 0–1 Greece | Euro 2004 Final Player Ratings – The Miracle Completed

 

The miracle was completed in Lisbon. The Euro 2004 final mirrored the tournament’s opening match, with Greece once again stunning Portugal — this time in their own house, on the grandest stage. What was supposed to be a football celebration turned into a night of mourning for the hosts, while Greece wrote one of the most beautiful underdog stories in football history.

 

 

 

PORTUGAL (4-2-3-1)

Scolari 6: He deserves credit for guiding Portugal to their best run in the tournament, reaching the final as hosts. Yet everything was overshadowed by the fact that they failed — for a second time — to break Greece’s defense. Despite some scattered chances, his side couldn’t find the breakthrough, and what should have been a coronation ended in a stunning defeat.

Ricardo 4: Denied Charisteas in the 13th minute and otherwise had little to do. But his match will always be remembered for his disastrous charge at the goal — rushing out with no coordination, leaving the net wide open for the decisive header.

Carvalho 7: Caught up in the goal sequence but not primarily at fault. Elsewhere, he showed his quality with strong tackles and composure. In stoppage time, he nearly rescued his team with a powerful left-footed strike that Nikopolidis parried brilliantly. On a bitter night, he was the one who stood out.

Andrade 6: Apart from the danger in the 13th minute, he had solid positioning and handled his tasks responsibly. Greece was never going to bombard the defense, and he did his job adequately.

Miguel 6: One of the more energetic Portuguese players. Created the first chance with a driven effort that forced a corner. In the 24th minute, he clashed with Pauleta in a promising attack. Unfortunately, his evening ended prematurely when he was injured in a duel with Giannakopoulos just before halftime.

Valente 6: Respectable display by his standards. Held his line well and tried some forward runs, but the Greek defense had the answers.

Costinha 5: Booked early after being beaten by Seitaridis and resorting to a heavy foul. Made a few solid interventions, but his night will be remembered for losing the decisive aerial duel to Charisteas — though questions linger as to why he was marking the striker in the first place. Substituted quickly after Greece went ahead.

Maniche 6: Covered plenty of ground through the middle, always trying to offer himself in different areas, but without major influence. In the 24th minute he had a chance to unleash one of his trademark long-range efforts, but wasted it badly as the ball flew wide.

Figo 4: One of the darkest nights of his career. Beyond the humiliation of losing twice to Greece on home soil, almost nothing came off for him despite constant effort. The humiliation was compounded by the infamous pitch invader Jimmy Jump, who mocked him by draping a Barcelona banner in his face.

Ronaldo 5: Somewhat excused by his age, as he still showed spirit and energy, but he too was humbled by the Greeks. Just like in the opening match, it was Seitaridis’s overlapping run that forced the corner off Ronaldo — the very set piece that led to the decisive goal. In the 74th minute he squandered a golden chance to equalize, and moments later his strike inside the box was denied by Dellas.

Deco 5: Among the more active Portuguese players, often initiating attacks. But he wasted far too many of his opportunities with poor final decisions and erratic shooting.

Pauleta 5: Grew desperate to find a clear sight of goal, resorting to speculative long shots. Marked out effectively by the Greek defense and largely invisible during his 75 minutes on the pitch.

Substitutes

Ferreira 5: Replaced the injured Miguel but couldn’t replicate his dynamism. Saw a decent amount of the ball yet lacked any decisive action.

Rui Costa 6: Came on just after Greece scored, which limited his influence. Still, he earns a slightly higher mark for the precise pass that created Ronaldo’s big chance.

Gomes 5: Entered for Pauleta, but with no major shift in Portugal’s tactical setup, he made little to no difference.

 

GREECE (4-3-3) 

Rehhagel 10: There’s no other grade possible for the architect of one of football’s greatest shocks. For the second time in the tournament he successfully trapped Portugal with his defensive masterplan. Chose the right men for the starting XI and got every single one of them to deliver at the maximum level. A tactical masterpiece that sealed immortality.

 

Nikopolidis 8: Rose to the occasion. While not under constant siege, he dealt calmly with Portugal’s more dangerous attempts, answering with authority to long-range efforts and tricky shots.

Dellas 8: The leader at the back, arguably his finest match from a purely defensive standpoint. Produced crucial interventions and showed composure during moments of Portuguese pressure.

Kapsis 8: On the same wavelength as Dellas. More noticeable in the first half with intelligent positioning, notably a superb tackle on Pauleta. In the second half, kept his ground without issue.

Seitaridis 8: Began brightly, winning a foul and yellow card against Costinha after a surging run. Maintained a high level throughout. In the second half, it was his persistence that earned the corner leading to the goal. Only blemish was the 74th minute, when he was caught out in the offside trap, leaving Ronaldo free — fortunately the youngster missed badly.

Fyssas 8: Another strong performance, particularly defensively. Stood out with key tackles on Cristiano Ronaldo, holding his side with authority.

Katsouranis 8: In the 13th minute, a sharper pass to Charisteas could have opened the scoring early. Nevertheless, he put in a massive shift both defensively and offensively, covering ground tirelessly.

Zagorakis 8: The captain once again rose to the occasion. His relentless running, vital tackles, and defensive covers on the right side embodied the spirit of this triumph.

Basinas 9: His influence might not show as much in the stats, but he was pivotal. It was his ball to Seitaridis that won the corner, and his perfect delivery from the set piece found Charisteas for the historic goal.

Charisteas 10: The mark justified simply for the monumental goal, rising above three defenders to head in glory. But beyond that, his work rate, pressing, and constant involvement in duels were inspirational. Undoubtedly the MVP of Greece’s fairy tale run.

Giannakopoulos 7: Provided valuable support with his runs and technical quality in possession. Gave all he had in his 75 minutes, helping maintain balance and relieving pressure.

Vryzas 7: Although lacking a decisive final action, his industry and constant pressing earned him credit. Battled hard up front, even if he lost most duels.

Substitutes

Venetidis: Came on late, held his ground solidly on the left as Greece protected their lead.

Papadopoulos: Got to taste the joy of stepping onto the pitch in a monumental European final, an unforgettable experience even without much involvement.