EURO 2004 Prediction:

[rassel]

LISBON, July 1 (Reuters) - Facts and figures from the 20th day of Euro 2004 in Portugal:

Semi-final, Porto, Dragao Stadium

Greece 1 Czech Republic 0

* Greece will play Portugal in the final of Euro 2004 on Sunday, July 4 at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon.

* It is the first time in European Championship and World Cup history that the two teams who played the opening match have also met in the final.

* The Netherlands played the Soviet Union in the final of Euro 88 after they met in their opening group match. The Soviet Union won the group match 1-0, the Netherlands won the final 2-0.

* Greek coach Otto Rehhagel is the oldest coach to reach the final of the European Championship. Rehhagel, aged 65, breaks Miguel Munoz' record. He was 62 when he led Spain to the final at Euro 84.

* Greek midfielder Theodoros Zagorakis, who is the second most capped Greek player ever with 94 caps, hasn't scored a single international goal. Zagorakis is joint third on the list of most capped European outfield players without a goal. European record holder Bjoern Nordqvist didn't find the net in 115 appearances for Sweden.

* Giorgios Karagounis received his fourth yellow card of the tournament and is suspended for the final. In the history of the European Championship no other player has received more than three cards in a single edition.

* No country with a foreign trainer has won the World Cup or European Championship. Greek trainer Otto Rehhagel is German and Portuguese coach Luis Felipe Scolari is Brazilian.

* Karel Poborsky equalled the competition record for most European Championship finals appearances which was held by Lilian Thuram and Zinedine Zidane. All three have played 14 matches.

* The Czech Republic's defeat ended their streak of winning nine successive competitive matches. In each of the nine matches the Czech's scored at least two goals.

* Their own best is an 11-match competitive winning streak between December 1997 and October 1999.

* The Czech Republic's streak of winning five successive European Championship matches also ended, meaning they do not claim sole ownership of the record. They had equalled the French and Dutch record after their quarter-final win over Denmark.

* France hold the record of nine consecutive European Championship matches with two or more goals scored. This streak was also ended by Greece in the quarter-finals of Euro 2004.

* This loss marks the first loss for Karel Brueckner in a competitive match as coach of the Czech Republic. He has won 11, drawn one - a 1-1 against the Netherlands - and lost one.

* Current top scorer Milan Baros is only the sixth player to score at least five goals at a single edition of the European Championship.

* It is the first time that a European Championship finals match has been decided by a silver goal.

[200SX]

Originally posted by TigerFan
Ha Ha Ha, what did I say you guys.......

it seems my all predictions r goin to b wrong....lets c abt final

[Navarene]

what should Portugal do

They shouldn't miss a single chance to score. There are very few team who can win a match without a good center forward. Pauleta should click at the right time.

Maniche's furious run-up thru Greek defence can make panic. He should be used this way.

And there is no alternative to genious. No doubt you would love to see Rui Costa in the field if you are romantic. Costa has the ability to change the colour of entire match.

what should Greece do

Set-piece movement should be used properly. Greece had so many opportunity to score from this movement.

In the final Seitaridis should defend his opponent the way he did to Henry or Milan Baros.

Deco can be dangerous! Theo Zagorakis and Angelos Basinas should take the responsibility to defend Deco.

Head to head

Goal keeping: Portugal keeper Ricardo became the hero against the England match. He has the ability to overcome himself in any big match on any given day. But Greek keeper Antonios Nikopolidis is more experienced than his counterpart. Both are equal at this post.

Defence: Ricardo Carvalho and Jorge Andrade are may be the best defensive pair of this tournie. Miguel can be dangerous when he overlaps himself towards the opponent goal post. On the other hand, the way Dellas, Kapsis, Seitaridis and Fyssas have played so far, they can easily be considered heros. But still they are one step behind Portugese defence in terms of talent and speed. Portugal is slightly ahead in this field

Midfield: Greece has the fighting spirit but Portugal has talent. Whether it is Deco or Figo; Ronaldo or Maniche-- Portugal never run out of strong midfield arsenal. Portugal is way ahead in this position.

Striker: Pauleta is the weak link of Portugese offence. Vryzas or Charisteas might not be called one Ronaldo or Romareo, but they know the goal pretty good. Greece is slighty ahead in striking mark.

Coach: A tricky knavish coach against a world champion. Rehhagel has made an organized team. But Scolari has multiple aces hidden in his sleeves. Portugal is slightly ahead.

P.S. My prediction for the final: Portugal 2 Greece 0 :embaressed:

[Edited on 3-7-2004 by Navarene]

[rassel]

Here is my Prediction!
The headline is going to like that once more!



Greece shock hosts: Portugal 1-2 Greece

[rassel]

The Euro 2004 soccer championship trophy is displayed at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Saturday, July 3, 2004, ahead of Sunday's Euro 2004 final between Portugal and Greece.
(AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

[Huda]

Originally posted by Navarene
what should Portugal do

They shouldn't miss a single chance to score. There are very few team who can win a match without a good center forward. Pauleta should click at the right time.



Maniche's furious run-up thru Greek defence can make panic. He should be used this way.

And there is no alternative to genious. No doubt you would love to see Rui Costa in the field if you are romantic. Costa has the ability to change the colour of entire match.

what should Greece do

Set-piece movement should be used properly. Greece had so many opportunity to score from this movement.

In the final Seitaridis should defend his opponent the way he did to Henry or Milan Baros.

Deco can be dangerous! Theo Zagorakis and Angelos Basinas should take the responsibility to defend Deco.

Head to head

Goal keeping: Portugal keeper Ricardo became the hero against the England match. He has the ability to overcome himself in any big match on any given day. But Greek keeper Antonios Nikopolidis is more experienced than his counterpart. Both are equal at this post.

Defence: Ricardo Carvalho and Jorge Andrade are may be the best defensive pair of this tournie. Miguel can be dangerous when he overlaps himself towards the opponent goal post. On the other hand, the way Dellas, Kapsis, Seitaridis and Fyssas have played so far, they can easily be considered heros. But still they are one step behind Portugese defence in terms of talent and speed. Portugal is slightly ahead in this field

Midfield: Greece has the fighting spirit but Portugal has talent. Whether it is Deco or Figo; Ronaldo or Maniche-- Portugal never run out of strong midfield arsenal. Portugal is way ahead in this position.

Striker: Pauleta is the weak link of Portugese offence. Vryzas or Charisteas might not be called one Ronaldo or Romareo, but they know the goal pretty good. Greece is slighty ahead in striking mark.

Coach: A tricky knavish coach against a world champion. Rehhagel has made an organized team. But Scolari has multiple aces hidden in his sleeves. Portugal is slightly ahead.

P.S. My prediction for the final: Portugal 2 Greece 0 :embaressed:

[Edited on 3-7-2004 by Navarene]

big feel? its big Phil man

[Navarene]

Originally posted by Huda

big feel? its big Phil man

a pun of word man

But whoever have thought that German Otto gonna boot samba Felipe's a§§??

I love Greece

[Edited on 5-7-2004 by Navarene]

[Piranha]

Greece have actually won! This is unbelievable.

[rassel]

My prediction came true except it’s only 1-0! 2-1 would have been much sweeter.
Nevertheless, this is away too impressive.


:joy :


[Edited on 16-7-2004 by rassel]

[TigerFan]

deth, I thought Portugal will win.

[rassel]

Greece captain Theo Zagorakis has won Uefa's best player award of Euro 2004.
The choice was made by Uefa's eight-man technical study group, plus one vote from the organisers' official website.

The 32-year-old won his 95th cap - a joint national record - as the Greeks beat hosts Portugal 1-0 in Lisbon on Sunday to win the tournament.

Zagorakis produced a series of impressive displays during the competition as part of a three-man midfield that shielded the back four.


The former Leicester City midfielder will be presented with his award at a gala in Monaco on 26 August.]

BBC Sports

[rassel]

[rassel]