Sixteen groups took half within the match staged in Portugal – and Greece had been fifteenth favourites to win it given they had been collaborating of their first Euros in 24 years and only a second ever.
Solely minnows Latvia had been seen as much less seemingly winners of the Henri Delaunay trophy in 2004.
What adopted was akin to a footballing miracle.
Twelve years earlier, Denmark, who had not even certified for Euro 92, upset the chances to capitalise on their late reprieve courtesy of Yugoslavia’s expulsion and, as celebrated a hit as that was, it was an eight-team match in these days.
This was completely different. Defending champions France with Zidane and Henry, Germany with Ballack and Klose, Spain with Xavi and Raul, and England with Beckham and Rooney had been all there.
That isn’t to say the Greeks’ first opponents and hosts, who had been a lot fancied to win on house soil with Ronaldo, Figo and Costa in tow.
This meant nothing to Renhagel. Greece shocked the locals with a 2-1 win in Porto on the opening night time and, whereas they needed to make do with second spot behind them on the finish of the group stage, their occasion was solely simply starting.
They didn’t precisely excite the neutrals with the fashion by which they went about it, however France and Czech Republic had been dispatched of their quarter-final and semi-final, respectively, earlier than a rematch in opposition to the Portuguese in Lisbon within the showpiece. Absolutely lightning would not strike twice?
Step ahead Angelos Charisteas, who wrote his title into historical past with the one purpose to encourage scenes of jubilation, not least amongst the 100,000 who spilled on to Athens’ Omonia Sq. that night.
Greek ex-pats internationally stopped site visitors and partied lengthy into the night time and Renhagel was the mastermind behind it. He was a German, however he was additionally now a Greek god.
They gained every of their knock-out video games 1-0, together with the one ever use of the “silver purpose” rule, once they beat the Czechs in that semi.
“The Greeks have made soccer historical past. It is a sensation,” Renhagel stated. And it was.
“King Otto’s” reign continued till 2010 and it has been a rollercoaster for Greece ever since as they put together to welcome Steve Clarke’s Scotland to Pireaus for the primary leg of their Nations League play-off on Thursday.
