Greece erupted in an unprecedented paroxysm of euphoria on Sunday night as a nation with a thin history of footballing glory celebrated its triumph at Euro 2004.
Fireworks lit up the night sky over Athens almost as soon as the final whistle sounded half a continent away in Lisbon, as flag-draped Athenians poured onto the streets of the capital, hailing the 1-0 victory over Portugal as the best possible augury for the Athens Olympics in August.
But there was almost as much surprise as ecstasy, with even the most optimistic fan slightly stunned by the achievement of their unfancied squad. Before Euro 2004, Greece had never even won a match at a major tournament. Many of the Greek national team are barely household names in their own country, and, unlike Portugal’s celebrated line-up, ply their trade in the second tier of European club football. Some, including match-winner Angelos Charisteas, struggle to command a regular club team place.
”We never thought we would ever get this far,” said Maria Kokkinou outside a bar in the Plaka neighbourhood. ”All I feel is pride, pride, pride. We’ve never won anything, and now we win this in the year we’ve got the Olympics.”
Earlier a tense mood had settled in the bars, tavernas and restaurants of the capital as a usually divided nation was for once united in hope, then in expectation as the final whistle neared. As the players celebrated on the pitch, and Greek prime minister Costas Karamanlis jumped for joy inside the stadium, cannon fire echoed over the Acropolis and the streets of Athens filled with horn-honking jubilants.
All ages and sections of society joined in, with blue-rinse pensioners thronging alongside fresh-faced enthusiasts and even Orthodox priests. Policemen went along with the carnival mood, honking motorcycle horns and cheerleading, as the crowds chanted ”Greece, Greece, raise the cup, raise the cup”.
”For 20 years I have been watching Greek national teams play and crying because they have always done so badly,” said Marinos Varvaitis (25). ”Now I’m crying because they have done so well.”
Prior to Euro 2004, Greece’s record in the finals of major tournaments was played six, won none, lost five, drawn one. They are officially the second worst team in World Cup finals history.
Football in Greece has in recent years become something of a national joke, with players complaining of tardy pay cheques and the coach, German Otto Rehhagel, being vilified in the press.
On Sunday night it was a different story. Players were eulogised across the country and Charisteas even reportedly had his home village renamed after him.
”[Football has] managed to unite the country, something politics wasn’t able to do,” said Rehhagel.
Celebrations rippled around the Greek diaspora as well, from America to Australia, Cyprus to South Africa.
Closer to home there was broken china on the floor of many a north London bar, as Greek fans exulted in the 57th-minute header that sealed victory. ”When the goal went in there was a lot of plates smashed,” said Stavros Labro-pulos, the manager of a cafe in Camden. ”I expect I will have a huge bill for damage by the end of the night but who cares, we are champions of Europe,” he told the Press Association.
Greece has been harshly criticised for its haphazard preparations for the August Olympics, but Karamanlis said before the game that success would boost the country’s image and contribute to the Olympic effort.
And despite questions over security and lacklustre ticket sales, no one on the streets of Athens last night was in any doubt that the Games would now be a roaring success.
”This will be the thing that will give the kick-start to the Olympics,” said Giorgos Monseratos. ”You can be sure that all Greeks will fill up those stadiums now, because we have got that pride back.”
”The Greeks have played this [championship] passionately and from the heart,” said Briton Maria Fairman. ”It will give them the drive, the boost they need to host the best ever Olympic Games.” – Guardian Unlimited