Greece national football team (The Pirate Ship)

Greece pulled off one of the biggest shocks in the history of international football to beat Portugal in the Euro 2004 Final courtesy of a goal by Angelos Charisteas in Lisbon.

The Hellenic Football Federation was founded in 1926, although the game had been very popular in Greece from late in the 19th century. However, until 2004, Greece spent most of their history in relative obscurity. They participated only twice in the final tournaments of the World Cup (1994) and European Championship (1980) until their incredible triumph in 2004,

Under the astute guidance of veteran German coach Otto Rehhagel, the Greeks arrived for the Portugal tournament, dismissed as rank outsiders with odds as high as 150–1 to lift the trophy. They beat the hosts in both the opening game and again in the final, as well as the defending champions France.

Since that momentous victory, Greece have regularly occupied a place in the top 30 of the FIFA world rankings and reached and highest position of 8th in 2008 and 2011.