euro 2004 knock out stages

euro 2004 logo The Golden Goal rule, widely criticised for producing negative play in extra-time, was replaced for the 2004 tournament with the so-called Silver Goal. If a game was level after 90 minutes up to 30 minutes of extra-time would be played: the team leading at the 15 minute break would be declared the winner. If scores were level at this stage a further 15 minutes would be played with a penalty competition as the last resort if scores were still level after 120 minutes.

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Quarter-Finals

Portugal

England

Portugal 2 England 2 (after extra-time)
(Portugal won 6-5 on penalties)

Estádio da Luz, Lisbon (65,000)
24 June 2004

Michael Owen gave England the best possible start, scoring with just three minutes gone. England defended with great determination against constant pressure until Winger Simão, a late substitute, intercepted a poor pass from Lampard and put Postiga through to score. Campbell had the ball in the net just before the end but the goal was ruled out. Portugal took the lead in extra time and were on target to win on the silver goal rule when Lampard leveled the score seconds before the break. With no goals in the second period of extra-time the match went to penalties and familiar heart-break for England.

Greece

France

Greece 1 France 0

Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon (45,390)
25 June 2004

Greece pulled off the biggest shock in their history and arguably in the history of the European Championship. They gave as good as they got in the first half and twenty minutes into the second half Charisteas met a cross near the penalty spot and scored a perfect headed goal.

Netherlands

Sweden

Netherlands 0 Sweden 0 (after extra-time)
(Netherlands won 5-4 on penalties)

Estádio do Algarve, Faro-Loulé (30,000)
26 June 2004

A desperately tight and close fought game could have gone either way: both sides struck the woodwork and had good chances. Misses by Zlatan Ibrahimović and Olof Mellberg in the penalty competition eventually proved crucial, Arjen Robben converting the decisive kick.

Czech Republic

Denmark

Czech Republic 3 Denmark 0

Estádio do Dragão, Porto (42,092)
27 June 2004

Three goals in the second half proved enough for the Czech Republic. The first half was closely contested but once Koller broke through in the 49th minute, the floodgates opened.

(James Palmer)

Semi-Finals

Portugal

Netherlands

Portugal 2 Netherlands 1

Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon (46,679)
30 June 2004

Goals in each half (Ronaldo & Maniche) were enough to put Portugal into the final. The Dutch pulled one back in the 63rd minute after Andrade put through his own goal and only a minute later had an effort that missed by inches.

Greece

Czech Republic

Greece 1 Czech Republic 0 (silver goal in extra-time)

Estádio do Dragão, Porto (42,449)
1 July 2004

Greece were 80-1 outsiders when the tournament started but once again they defied the odds. The Czech team were undeniably superior in technique but they failed to break down the Greeks' determined defence. With no score after 90 minutes the match went to extra time and Greece became the first team to win on the new silver goal rule.

Final

Greece

Portugal

Greece 1 Portugal 0

Estádio da Luz, Lisbon (62,865)
4 July 2004

On paper, this match should have been no contest and the home supporters were looking forward to seeing their talented team at last winning a major trophy. Against expectation, the Greeks played with fluency and although they only had one shot on target, it was all they needed, Charisteas scoring from a corner. The stunned Portuguese were unable to break through the massed Greek defence and the outsiders held on for a famous win.

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