Underdogs

Hard works indeed pays off.

The first match of Euro 2004 was between the host nation Portugal and Greece. Now both teams find themselves squaring off against each other in the final.

The Greeks were written as outsiders by the media even before the tournament started. And if you asked any person who will win the Euro 2004 I bet you never heard Greece. But in all glory the Greeks have become the true underdogs of the tournament.

Even I will humbly admit that the Greeks were not my first choice to win this tournament. My pick was not England nor Germany, or even France. I actually picked the Czech Republic to win the tournament. But as the tournament progressed, a true underdog appeared. After the underestimation by their opponents, the Greeks have performed a miracle to find themselves in the final.

Greek’s Traianos Dellas' header in added time at the end of the first half of silver goal extra time knocked out the Czech Republic and booked them a place in history. Will the Greek’s storybook fantasy come true or will the golden boys of Portugal finally rise up to the occasion to claim that which has eluded them thus far, the prized trophy of the European championship, only time will tell.

The Portuguese have everything to play for while the Greeks have nothing to lose. And given the fact that no host nation has ever won the tournament on home soil, I hope history repeats itself. Whatever happens, this has been a tournament to remember. May the best team win.

My Pick, the Greeks.