Denmark in 1992, Greece in 2004… These surprise winners of the competition

Several teams created a sensation during a Euro. The latest one? Portugal, crowned in 2016, despite its outsider status.

After Denmark in 1992 or Greece in 2004, will there be a new surprise during this Euro 2024 in Germany? Already during the last two editions, Portugal and Italy were not among the favorites for final victory. For the kick-off of this 17th European Championship, a look back at the greatest exploits of the teams that we didn’t expect.

Italy in 1968, the bright side of the coin

Luck is part of sport and Italy is well placed to know it. At home in 1968, the Squadra Azzurra faced the USSR in the semi-final, finalist of the last Euro. With her status as an outsider, she resisted for 120 minutes and held the match to a draw. Penalty shootout? No, because at the time, these did not exist. The referee then decides the fate of the match with a coin. A coin toss, Italy emerges victorious and reaches the final.

To be crowned, the Squadra Azzurra must beat Yugoslavia. But once again, the two teams cannot decide between themselves. For a final, no new heads or tails, the match must be replayed. Two days later, the Transalpines dominated the Yugoslavs and won the first European title in their history.

Denmark in 1992, drafted then crowned

Worthy of a cinema fiction. During qualifying for Euro 1992, the Danes finished 2nd in their group behind Yugoslavia and did not qualify for the competition in Sweden. But the Balkan War will finally allow the Scandinavians to participate in the European Championship. A few weeks before the launch of the competition, the UN decided to exclude Yugoslavia from any sporting event and Denmark replaced it.

The “Red and White” find themselves in the group of the host country, France and England. Far from being favorites in their group, the Danes managed to qualify and found the Netherlands, defending champions, in the semi-finals. Thanks to a victory on penalties, the Scandinavians qualified for the final, during which they defeated Germany, which had just won the World Cup. Denmark wins and wins its only trophy in a major international competition.

Greece in 2004, a historic performance

Who would have bet on Greece in 2004? Not many people. Arriving in Portugal, she is nothing more than an outsider. In a very tough group with the host country, Spain and Russia, the Greeks managed to get out of the pools.

In the quarter-finals, Otto Rehhagel’s men continue their dream journey by defeating France of Zinédine Zidane, title holder. With complete confidence, Greece then eliminated the Czech Republic and found Portugal in the final. Thanks to a goal from a corner, Ángelos Charistéas sends his country to seventh heaven. Since then, the Greeks have only reached the final phase of the Euro once, with a quarter-final in 2012.

Portugal in 2016, an atypical journey

The Portuguese have learned the lesson of 2004. After a terrible disillusionment in front of their supporters, Cristiano Ronaldo’s teammates managed a unique journey. In 2016, they managed to qualify for the final draw thanks to the new competition format. For this edition, UEFA decides to increase to 24 teams (instead of 16), and to add round of 16 matches. The first two of the six groups as well as the four best 3rds, of which the Seleçao will be part, are therefore qualified for the final table.

From the round of 16 onwards, Fernando Santos’ men must draw on their resources in each match. A victory in overtime against Croatia, a qualification on penalties against Poland, and the Portuguese find the other surprise of this Euro in the last four, Wales. The Seleçao then won its only match in 90 minutes and joined France in the final. Far from being favorites, Portugal will create a surprise thanks to a goal from Eder which still haunts the French today.