Let me preface this post by stating I don't know much about European football. I have a general knowledge about the elite nations and clubs, but that's about it. However, from every source I can find, Greece's 1-0 triumph over Portugal at Euro 2004 is the biggest upset in the tournament's history.
The win, which was something like a 100/1 longshot, has shocked observers and sent Greece into a frenzy. I doubt even one player on Greece thought they would win the event before play began last month. However, one by one Europe's superpowers fell. Germany, Italy, Spain, France, England, Holland, the Czech Republic all stumbled.
That left only Greece and the host nation, Portugal. The hosts have a fine football squad buy all accounts. However, even their home field advantage at the European Championships weren't enough to stop the Greeks from completing a storybook run.
While few Americans saw it and even fewer cared to notice, the Grecian win is the reason we watch sports, isn't it? The hope that your team, no matter the odds, no matter the opponent, no matter the field of play, can overcome everything to capture a championship.
Next month, Greece will play host to the Summer Olympics and the world's attention will turn their way. However, I suspect the citizens of that nation will still have all their attention focused on the football title they never dreamed would be theirs.
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