Review of Euro 2004

By Phil McNulty
Our man in Portugal

TEAM OF EURO 2004

Why it was a fitting finale

Greece claim the crown by virtue of the most stunning win in the history of the competition - eclipsing even the 1992 win by a Denmark side who were not even in the tournament until the last moment.

Coach Otto Rehhagel built a defensive wall that opponents found difficult to knock down, but Greece have had a good record before Euro 2004. Rehhagel's is no overnight success.

Sound defence, stern resilience and an ability to punish slackness by opponents made for a formidable combination.

Not even mentioned in dispatches before Euro 2004, but Rehhagel and his men will go down in history.

Greece's football team have provided the perfect curtain-raiser to the Athens Olympics.

PLAYER OF EURO 2004

Many contenders, but for sheer impact on the tournament and the seismic effect his performances had around the world - witness English journalists being pestered by Chinese reporters - it has to be Wayne Rooney.

Rooney has been propelled into the limelight

Everton's brilliant 18-year-old was labelled an overweight, temperamentally-flawed liability by some "experts" two weeks before Euro 2004.

Four goals and a series of stunning performances later - how many slices of humble pie would that be sir?

Not a bad effort from his young counterpart from across Stanley Park, Milan Baros, either.

Liverpool's striker won the Golden Boot award.

COACH OF EURO 2004

"King Otto" brought Greece to the promised land and delivered sheer ecstasy.

The 65-year-old laughed in the face of his own country Germany by guiding the underdogs further than his homeland with the most tight-fisted defence in the tournament.

GAME OF EURO 2004

The classic group game between Holland and the Czech Republic. Holland raced into a two-goal lead through Wilfred Bouma and Ruud van Nistelrooy before Jan Koller pulled one back.

It set the stage for a stunning Czech comeback, with Milan Baros equalising before his Liverpool team-mate Vladimir Smicer slid home the winner for a 3-2 victory with two minutes left.

Once again a reward for bravery by Karel Bruckner and his team - Sven-Goran Eriksson take note.

GOAL OF EURO 2004

Portugal's Maniche and the crucial second goal against Holland in the semi-final in Lisbon's Alvalade Stadium.

Virtual replay: 3D animation of Maniche's strike

Taking a short corner from Cristiano Ronaldo, the Porto midfielder arrowed a 25-yard angled drive into Edwin van der Sar's top corner, leaving the goalkeeper completely helpless.

Outstanding moment from a man who was uncertain of his place in Portugal's starting line-up before Euro 2004.

MISS OF EURO 2004

Oh dear. Step forward David Beckham - and try not to slip this time.

Shocking penalty against Portugal, a replica of his miss in Turkey. Blamed the penalty spot in desperation, but recent penalty record shows this was not an isolated incident.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER OF EURO 2004

What went wrong with Beckham?

David Beckham. Lightweight, peripheral and barely made a contribution to England's campaign.

Never looked fit, and foolishly tried to blame Real Madrid's training regime. Fought off strong competition from Spain's Raul - another spluttering Bernabeu "Galactico" - to claim the prize.

MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAM OF EURO 2004

Germany, who were a desperate betrayal of a proud footballing heritage and did not win a game, share the trophy with Spain who did what they always do - came, went, did nothing.

MOST DISAPPOINTING COACH OF EURO 2004

No outright winners, but Rudi Voeller suffered in Portugal and quit hours after defeat against the Czechs.

Giovanni Trapattoni looked past his sell-by date with Italy and may be a lucky escape for Spurs - although the man they have appointed Jacques Santini hardly covered himself in glory with France.

England's Sven-Goran Eriksson damaged his reputation with negativity against France and Portugal.

Appears to take fright tactically against top opposition. It is not in the English nature to man the barricades and defend a lead and it is about time he recognised it.

REFEREE OF EURO 2004

Pierluigi Collina gets it again. Authority and respect personified. Do players ever dare argue with him? Get this man to the Premiership.

Germany's Markus Merk also delivered outstanding performances.

England's Mike Riley gave foreign fields a taste of what the Premiership is used to every week. And you can read whatever you like into that.

VILLAIN OF EURO 2004

Swiss referee Urs Meier, who disallowed the infamous last-minute header from Sol Campbell that would have sent England into the semi-finals.

Photographic evidence suggested he may not have been as wrong as England thought he was - and certainly did not deserve the hail of moronic abuse aimed at him.

Then there was the spiteful spitters Francesco Totti and Alexander Frei.

Totti was handed a three-game ban for gobbing at Denmark's Christian Poulsen while Frei was given a 15-day suspension for targeting Steven Gerrard.

FANS OF EURO 2004

Portugal fans have been great

Tough category with no outright winner. Holland, Sweden and Denmark splashed colour all over a tournament that was mercifully trouble free, while the noise in the Stadium of Light when Helder Postiga equalised against England will ring in the ear-drums forever.

As for England's fans, those of us in Lisbon and Coimbra witnessed Sven's army turn up in their hordes, make noise, go home disappointed and hugely enhance their reputation after a virtually trouble-free tournament.