Portugal's party goes flat on Euro 2004 opening day
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-06-13 10:24

Host nation Portugal made a disastrous start to Euro 2004 as they crashed to a 2-1 defeat against unfavoured Greece.

The futuristic Dragao Stadium in Oporto was packed with 50,000 fans but the festive atmosphere went flat after seven minutes when Georgios Karagounis punished poor Portuguese defending to give Greece the lead with a long-range shot.

Greece's midfielder Angelis Basinas (L) is congratulated by his teammate, midfielder Stylianos Giannakopoulos (R) after scoring the second goal for his team at Dragao stadium in Porto, during the Euro 2004 group A football match between Portugal and Greece.  [AFP]

Portugal fell further behind when substitute Cristiano Ronaldo conceded a penalty and Angelis Basinas scored emphatically from the spot in the second half.

Ronaldo made amends with a headed consolation goal in stoppage time, but Greece completed an opening day shock result to rival the 2002 World Cup finals when Senegal beat France in the first match.

Portugal will have to emulate the Netherlands in 1988 if they are to become only the second side in the tournament's history to lose their opening match and go on to win the title.

Luis Felipe Scolari, the Portugal coach, apologised to the host nation's supporters.

"All I can say is I'm sorry for this result, it's not what the fans deserved," said Scolari, who guided his native Brazil to the 2002 World Cup trophy.

"However in a short tournament like this, one is allowed a slip-up and we have had ours."

Greece's German manager Otto Rehhagel hailed his team's remarkable performance in their first appearance at a major finals since the 1994 World Cup.

"I don't want to exaggerate but this must be the greatest win ever for Greece," he said.

In the other Group A match on Saturday, Spain took full advantage of Portugal's slip-up when they beat Russia 1-0 thanks to a goal from Juan Carlos Valeron just 36 seconds after he came on as a substitute.

Portugal's qualification for the quarter-final stage could now hinge on their final qualifying match against Spain on June 20.

With first choice strikers Raul and Fernando Morientes unable to break the deadlock, Spanish coach Inaki Saez threw on Deportivo La Coruna midfielder Valeron after 60 minutes and he fired home Carles Puyol's cross.

"The Valeron substitution is one we often try and it works well. It certainly did today," Saez said.

Spain's win at the Algarve Stadium eases the tension ahead of their next match against Greece on Wednesday, when victory would guarantee them passage into the last eight as they bid to win the European title for the first time in 40 years.

Meanwhile, reigning champions France and England limbered up for their meeting in Lisbon and Sunday when France's most capped player Marcel Desailly will only be a substitute.

French coach Jacques Santini has opted to partner Lilian Thuram with Mikael Silvestre in central defence against England's pacy attacking duo of Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney.

Much of the pre-match spotlight has been on France striker Thierry Henry, but England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said Owen could be the matchwinner.

"He is fit, in good shape, he seems to be mentally very strong and he's shown many times that he's the man for the big tournaments," Eriksson said.

Croatia and Switzerland play in Sunday's other Group B match.

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