Euro 2004 Press Review: Hell Hath No Fury
June 29, 2004
The European press can be a ruthless lot, especially when it comes to soccer. When their home country has capitulated in front of the watching eyes of rivals and neighbors, the returning team can forget about kind words of consolation in many cases. The newspapers will compound the despair or look for a scapegoat on which to vent their spleen. This year's European Championships have been no exception. Here are the best and worst examples of press reactions to some of the tournament's shock eliminations.
France 0-1 Greece
"Les Bleus are stark naked, they showed no desire, no ideas."
L'Equipe
"France's failure means the end for the golden generation which won the World Cup in 1998 and the European championship in 2000."
Le Parisien
"Penetrable in defence and disorganised in attack, France leave this tournament quite rightly."
Le Monde
"Zidane was practically useless during the first half. Can Zizou quit the national team after such a lackluster performance?"
L'Equipe
"Oh la la, the great Greece!"
Greek Daily Tea Nea
"Vive la Grece!"
Eleftherotypia
"No, it's not a dream!"
Eleftheros Typos
Portugal 2-2 England (Portugal win 6-5 on penalties)
"So painful, so cruel, and yet, so typical."
The Daily Mail
"Idiot ref robs Becks' heroes." (reference to referee Urs Meier)
The Sun
"What an Urs" (another reference to referee Urs Meier)
The Star
"A goal that wasn't - England made to suffer in theater of cruelty."
The Times
"The players showed guts and heart, and now they are ready for anything."
O Jogo
"A Portuguese Fable"
La Gazzetta dello Sport
Spain 0-1 Portugal (Spain eliminated in first round)
"In Hell again."
El Mundo
"A new date and a new place will enter the traumatic history of the Spanish team in major tournaments."
El Pais
"Today, I refuse to speak of soccer."
Editorial in Santos
"Spain failed again and this time without an ounce of glory or even dignity."
As
Germany 1-2 Czech Republic (Germany eliminated in first round)
'Rudi, we are the idiots of Europe.'
Bild
'Germany is not internationally competitive any more two years before hosting the World Cup. That's the bitter truth from the night in Lisbon.'
Die Welt
"Traitors!"
Bild (again)
Italy 2-1 Bulgaria (Italy eliminated in first round)
"The millionaires go home."
Il Messaggero
"Out with Trap, Get Lippi in."
Corriere dello Sport
“A team gone to seed. Don't look for alibis.”
La Repubblica
“In our national team there is not a single real champion.”
La Stampa