As doubtless evidenced by the very fact you’ve simply clicked on this text and audibly muttered, “Oh wow, yeah, Greece”, the reminiscence of triumph at Euro 2004 is probably going lodged in a really bizarre a part of your mind. It completely did occur, of that you just’re positive, however within the period earlier than social media the place each sporting happenstance wasn’t being endlessly shared, clipped, memed and remixed, you possibly can’t recollect it with any readability.
The entire early noughties triumphs that concerned main nations are clearly seen to you: Ronaldo’s foolish haircut operating riot for Brazil in opposition to Germany in 2002, Zinedine Zidane’s brow trying a dwelling laryngoscopy on Marco Materazzi in 2006.
Not Greece. Angelos Charisteas’ successful purpose within the remaining seldom makes the spotlight reels, and Theo Zagorakis is extra prone to be talked about as a pub quiz reply than throughout a dialog about soccer greats, regardless of captaining his nation to Euros glory.
That’s a tragedy – ironic, for the nation that birthed that very theatre style. Additionally they wrote possibly soccer’s greatest underdog story.
Greece at Euro 2004: The philosophy
Rehhagel managed Greece to glory (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
The method of boss Otto Rehhagel wasn’t something that was vastly ground-breaking. There wasn’t an ingenious new setup, or perhaps a generational star to construct a novel tactic round.
What ingenuity the facet did have centred round defender Traianos Dellas – Greece’s system organized themselves in such a method that he’d operate as a centre-back and not using a particular man-marking job, permitting him to determine harmful eventualities when out of possession and likewise extra freely take part with the midfielders when in it.
Greece did that by alternating between a again 4 and a again 5, relying on the opposition. Within the group in opposition to Spain, who had Fernando Morientes as a lone striker, Dellas was partnered by Michalis Kapsis, who caught diligently to the ahead.
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Within the quarter-final in opposition to France, who paired Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet, right-back Giourkas Seitaridis typically moved into the centre – following Henry in from the flank – to share that accountability.
Man-marking like that had all however vanished from top-level soccer a number of years prior, because the elevated means for attackers to rotate positions and discover area uncovered its apparent limitations. However by giving Dellas freedom to comb behind, step ahead and canopy throughout when wanted, opponents have been flummoxed.
The structure
Theo Zagorakis kisses the European Championship trophy (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
To counsel that Greece “weren’t a passing facet” can be an enormous understatement. However, equally, to deride them as unfavourable or passive can be doing them a disservice of equal heft.
Rehhagel was effectively conscious of his crew’s limitations and had them organised in ways in which masked their shortcomings on the ball. With no technically gifted midfielders or centre-backs completely comfy taking part in out, they’d routinely go lengthy into central ahead Zisis Vryzas or Charisteas out extensive.
Because the event progressed, they turned more and more environment friendly at convincing opponents they have been seeking to maintain the ball up, coming barely shorter after which flicking it into the area that opened up in consequence. Stelios Giannakopoulos specifically turned a potent weapon in that regard.
The one sport the place they actually did attempt to hold the ball on the ground and play via their opponents was their remaining group sport in opposition to Russia, which they misplaced 2-1. It value themselves high spot within the group, making certain they confronted France fairly than England within the final eight. They discovered their lesson, although.
The theatre
Angelos Charisteas of Greece scores their successful purpose (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Within the knockout levels, Greece refined their methodology and went all the way in which to the trophy, thanks to 3 just about similar 1-0 victories.
They’d hold issues as tight as doable within the opening half, virtually by no means committing gamers ahead to open up area for his or her opponents. Because the match wore on, they’d work alternatives to cross the ball, then use their superior measurement and energy in opposition to tiring gamers to nick a purpose. From there, the store’s doorways, home windows and shutters would shortly be closed once more.
Within the quarter-final in opposition to France, they stored Henry, Trezeguet, Zidane, Robert Pires and Louis Saha out, whereas Charisteas nodded in a cross simply after the hour. In opposition to the Czech Republic, Milan Baros, Jan Koller, Pavel Nedved and Tomas Rosicky attacked in useless, just for Dellas to go residence an extra-time nook. Then within the remaining in opposition to Portugal, a close to carbon-copy nook for Charisteas was sufficient to disclaim Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Deco and Rui Costa.
Had been they lucky? Perhaps. However a fluke? Completely not. Rehhagel made each star within the footballing cosmos align – that needs to be celebrated, not forgotten.
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