BBC SPORT | Football | Euro 2004 (original) (raw)

Greece sensationally knocked out defending champions France with an incredible win in their Euro 2004 quarter-final.

A powerful second-half header from Angelos Charisteas stunned France, who looked out of sorts and uninspired.

Greece were lively and keen to work hard, and outplayed France in an uneventful first half.

France came out with more verve in the second period and threatened with a host of chances, notably a late Thierry Henry header, but Greece held firm.

Greece began the Lisbon encounter full of endeavour and showed early signs of their intention with a dangerous cross from Charisteas on five minutes.

	It is a big disappointment because the adventure has come to an end France coach Jacques Santini

Shortly after, Demis Nikolaidis fired a fierce shot at keeper Fabien Barthez as Greece began to build some authority from midfield.

France were struggling to establish any rhythm and it was Greece who went close again on 15 minutes when Costas Katsouranis' stabbed shot from a Giorgos Karagounis free-kick hit the left post and was smothered right on the line by Barthez.

France's first meaningful effort fell to Henry after 24 minutes when the Arsenal striker unleashed a powerful header just wide.

	KEY INCIDENTS 15 mins: France keeper Barthez saves on the line from Nikolaidis' short-range effort 37 mins: Fyssas' lob is tipped over by Barthez 65 mins: Charisteas' header puts Greece in front

Greece's industry paid off again when Katsouranis had another good chance, before left-back Takis Fyssas attempted an audacious lob from wide on the left which Barthez stretched to tip over the bar.

Henry launched France' s only other attack of note just before the interval but after a surging run his tame shot was pouched by keeper Antonis Nikopolidis.

Early in the second half, Henry's goal-bound volley was deflected wide by Traianos Dellas as France came out with a spring in their step missing from the first period.

As the half developed, France became more threatening and Greece were lucky to survive a spell that saw a dangerous run from Bixente Lizarazu and near misses from William Gallas and Henry.

But France were caught napping, and Theodoros Zagorakis' elusive run down the right gave him space to cross for Charisteas, who powered his header home.

It was an unstoppable header which set up one of the most amazing results in European Championship history.

France coach Jacques Santini was immediately forced to make changes and brought on Sylvain Wiltord and Louis Saha for Olivier Dacourt and David Trezeguet.

Saha and Henry both attempted weak shots as the game entered the final quarter, before Henry missed France's best chance with a header narrowly wide with three minutes left.

The Greek fairytale will roll on with a semi-final showdown against the winners of the quarter-final between Denmark and the Czech Republic.

France: Barthez, Gallas, Thuram, Silvestre, Lizarazu, Zidane, Makelele, Dacourt (Wiltord 72), Pires (Rothen 79), Henry, Trezeguet (Saha 72).
Subs Not Used: Coupet, Landreau, Boumsong, Vieira, Desailly, Pedretti, Sagnol, Marlet, Govou.

Booked: Zidane, Saha.

Greece: Nikopolidis, Seitaridis, Kapsis, Dellas, Fissas, Zagorakis, Basinas (Tsiartas 85), Karagounis, Nikolaidis (Lakis 61), Katsouranis, Charisteas.
Subs Not Used: Chalkias, Katergiannakis, Venetidis, Dabizas, Giannakopoulos, Kafes, Georgiadis, Goumas, Papadopoulos.

Booked: Karagounis, Zagorakis.

Attendance: 45,390.

Referee: Anders Frisk (Sweden).

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