Hasn’t football become somewhat predictable in the modern era?
The Premier League consistently produces the same winners, and the European competition isn’t any better.
Most people might probably anticipate where the large trophies go at the beginning of each season. The underdog’s attractiveness has vanished.
However, it wasn’t always that way. Let’s go back to 2004, the year that football was revolutionized.
When a spectacular Greek tragedy stunned Portugal, the hosts of the European Championship, it was possibly the biggest football shock of 2004.
When Greece defeated Portugal in the first game of the campaign, the warning signs were evident right away. Late in the game, a youthful Cristiano Ronaldo managed to get on the scoreboard, but it didn’t matter as Portugal lost 2-1.
Surprisingly, their paths would meet again in the Euro 2004 final, where Portugal was the overwhelming favorite to win their first major tournament.
Greece and Angelos Charisteas had different plans. The striker’s header in the second half caused scenes of joy for Greece and tears for Ronaldo, the adolescent superstar.
2004 was already known as the year of the shocks by the time the Euros arrived in the summer.
Before Greece’s success at the Euros, it appeared that the Champions League, Europe’s most prestigious club championship, would be the biggest football surprise.
The Portuguese team, led by the soon-to-be “Special One,” advanced to the knockout stage by navigating a challenging group that included record European champions Real Madrid, Partizan Belgrade, and Marseille.
At the end of the season, however, Porto would be claiming to be the Kings of the Contienent as the Dragons defeated Lyon, Deportivo de La Coruna, and the formidable Manchester United on their way to the championship game.
In the final, Monaco was controlled by a large group of Portuguese players, including Pedro Mendes, Ricardo Carvalho, and Deco. They defeated the French team 3-0, sending Mourinho’s reputation skyrocketing.
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