Underdogs cast a spell in magical year for soccer

Shels were not the only side to upset the form book in 2004, writes James Whelan.

GREECE’S extraordinary success at Euro 2004 and Porto’s victory in the Champions League final brought romanticism back to international soccer in a landmark year for the sport.

Greece’s remarkable upset in becoming European champions after starting the tournament as 80-1 outsiders did not meet with universal approval from purists unhappy with their defensive approach.

It was hard to disagree with coach Otto Rehhagel’s counter-attacking tactics, however, as Greece clinched the title by beating hosts Portugal in the opening match (2-1) and final (1-0). They also got the better of reigning champions France (1-0) in the quarter-finals and the favourites from the Czech Republic (1-0) in the semi-finals.

Victory at Lisbon’s Stadium of Light on July 4 would have completed an incredible double for Portugal following Porto’s 3-0 victory over Monaco in the Champions League final six weeks earlier.

But a 57th-minute header from Angelos Haristeas secured Greece the greatest upset victory in international soccer history.

Unfancied teams have beaten far more favoured rivals in one-off games for decades but none rated as lowly as Greece had won an international tournament as prestigious as the European Championship before.

FIFA celebrated its 100th anniversary this year and UEFA, the European governing body, and their Asian counterparts the AFC, marked their golden jubilees. While they enjoyed nostalgic looks back at their celebrated histories, the games’ rulers had their hands full coping with modern problems.

In December last year, FIFA president Sepp Blatter first admitted publicly that soccer had a growing problem with doping and the issue has continued to blight the game during the past 12 months. Romanian international striker Adrian Mutu, who cost Chelsea £15.8m in 2003, was sacked in October after testing positive for cocaine. In November, Juventus doctor Riccardo Agricola was found guilty and sentenced to 22 months in prison for administering the banned drug EPO to the Italian club’s players during the 1990s.

Racism was another issue to plague the game again after it appeared to have been consigned to history.

After various low-key outbreaks throughout Europe during the year, England’s black players were subjected to constant abuse during a friendly in Madrid in November.

On the field, Porto had more than most to celebrate in 2004.

By changing the format of the Champions League, UEFA turned back the clock to its own early days of the 1950s when dramatic cup-tie soccer first captivated European crowds.

Introducing a knockout competition after the first Champions League group stage opened up Europe’s elite tournament and Porto, under the astute leadership of Jose Mourinho, won the European Cup after eliminating Manchester United, Olympique Lyon and Deportivo Coruna and beating Monaco in the final.

They also won the Cup and League double in Portugal while, in neighbouring Spain, Valencia won a double of the Primera Liga and the UEFA Cup.

Arsenal became the first English champions in 115 years to win the title without losing a match, failed in Europe, but later set an English record of 49 league matches unbeaten.

There was also glory for Brazil, who won the Copa America; Japan, who were crowned Asian champions, and Tunisia, who won the African title.

Robinho, 20, emerged as the latest great Brazilian hope while English teenager Wayne Rooney made a staggering £30m transfer from Everton to Manchester United.

At the other end of the career time-line, Frenchman Zinedine Zidane was among those who announced his retirement from internationals, with Portugal’s Luis Figo and Pavel Nedved of the Czech Republic, following suit.

Making a more permanent exit was managerBrian Clough, who led Nottingham Forest toEuropean Cup successin 1979 and 1980 andwho died in September, aged 69.

Other deaths included Bill Nicholson, who led Tottenham Hotspur to the first English League and Cup double for 64 years in 1961; Welsh hero John Charles; Leonidas Da Silva, inventor of the bicycle kick and top scorer in the 1938 World Cup finals; Roque Maspoli, Uruguay’s goalkeeper when they won the World Cup in 1950; Atletico Madrid supremo Jesus Gil; Ronnie Simpson, Celtic’s keeper in their 1967 European Cup-winning team, and Bob Stokoe, who led Sunderland to an epic FA Cup final win over Leeds United in 1973.