On this day in the Euros, June 12: Greece spoil Portugal's party

Managed by World Cup winner Big Phil Scolari (height: 5ft 11.5in), the 2004 hosts Portugal couldn’t have asked for a better opener: outsiders Greece had only previously qualified for the Euros and World Cup once each (1980 and 1994), and hadn’t won a single game.  

However, the Greeks’ 65-year-old gaffer Otto Rehhagel was your archetypal Wily Old Fox, who after 30 years’ management in Germany had drilled the Ethniki into a superbly organised defensive unit. And after the pomp and nonsense of the opening ceremony, it only took Greece seven minutes to grab a lead they could hold on to.

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Gary Parkinson is a freelance writer, editor, trainer, muso, singer, actor and coach. He spent 14 years at FourFourTwo as the Global Digital Editor and continues to regularly contribute to the magazine and website, including major features on Euro 96, Subbuteo, Robert Maxwell and the inside story of Liverpool's 1990 title win. He is also a Bolton Wanderers fan.