Greece bursts with joy as dream comes true

Millions of Greeks around the world erupted in joyful celebration after Greece won the Euro 2004 final.

Millions of Greeks around the world erupted in joyful celebration, hardly believing their eyes after Greece beat hosts Portugal in the Euro 2004 soccer final on Sunday.

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"It is true, the dream is real, we are holding the Cup high up, we are in seventh heaven," screamed the commentator for Greek national TV, calling on all Greeks to party until morning.

"The Greek soul won, with a bit of help from the German method," said Aspasia Vlahou, on her way to central Athens to celebrate. "If you have faith, dreams really can come true".

The Greek squad, coached by German Otto Rehhagel, started the tournament as 80-1 outsiders and fought their way to the final past holders France and the fancied Czech Republic before beating the hosts 1-0 in the final.

In a well-rehearsed ritual, millions flooded streets and squares across Greece after the final whistle, draped in the national colours of blue-and-white, whistling, setting off fireworks and chanting the national anthem.

In Athens, a city supposedly under a partial security curtain before the August 13-29 Olympic Games, hundreds of thousands made their way downtown in cars, on mopeds and on foot, beeping car horns, waving flags and hugging total strangers.

Flares turned night to day around central Omonia square, where people climbed up statues, lamp posts and trees, raced their motorbikes in impromptu motorcades and joined marching bands in clapping and singing.

"Greeks know how to dream, tonight we will celebrate, Greece will burn, no one will go to work tomorrow," said civil servant Mary Makri.

Celebrations were triggered when a 57th-minute goal by Angelos Haristeas united Greeks in a collective scream of ecstasy.

Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis jumped up and down in the stands of the Luz stadium in Lisbon, clenching his fists and cheering.

"It was a crazy journey from the start, but the team believed in themselves and made all our dreams come true," said Periklis Giannaris, hoarse from cheering after the final whistle.

Greek police estimated that more than 250,000 people had gathered in downtown Athens by three am (0000 GMT). No trouble was reported apart from minor injuries and a few damaged cars.

DIASPORA CHEERS

Celebrations spread to Greeks around the world, estimated to be around seven million people from New York to London and Melbourne.

"This is a victory for Greek people all over the world, we hope we have given them something of our joy and something to carry with them in the future," said Greece captain Theodoros Zagorakis.

Thousands of Greeks and Greece fans watching the match in central Berlin erupted in shouts of joy at the final whistle, shooting fireworks into the night sky.

"We're all Greeks today," said one of the 4,000 German fans cheering for Greece at Potsdamer Platz square.

"We have been shouting non-stop, we are going mad, we will flood the city," said Nikos Chatzigeorgiou, a student watching the game in London.