2004 in review

[DerMongerer]

As the year 2004 draws to a close, looking back what will you remember most about the 2004 footballing calendar, one half being domestic club sides and the other being International? One of each please.

[Vic#10]

Internationally, it would have to be Greece winning Euro 2004, I was not all too happy, having wanted Italy to win. I have to say for the record, Italy was the only team that did not loose a single game in the tournament.
There are many things to choose from on the domestic stage but for me, having been born in Romania, Adrian Mutu’s Drug scandal tops my list. It was a day that I will remember for a long time, I was pissed off.
Overall 2004 was a memorable year in the world of soccer and I am glad to be a part of it through its highs and lows.

[Aguante Bielsa]

Greece winning the Euro. I hate their style, but they did what they could with the few resources they had. I admire that.

Argentina's perfect Olympic tournament: gold, 17 goals scored, no goals conceded, fair play title. Just great.

[kris]

Greece winning the Euro. I hate their style, but they did what they could with the few resources they had. I admire that.

Argentina's perfect Olympic tournament: gold, 17 goals scored, no goals conceded, fair play title. Just great.

2004 was the year of the underdog! Greece, Once Caldes and FC Porto. It's nice to see the big guns don't have a free pass in major tournaments anymore.

[Shaydee]

I'll remember the underdogs, Greece, Once Caldas, Porto. Unfortunately the Mutu situation and of course as much as I hate them Arsenal's unbeaten run.

[Spartak]

I have to say for the record, Italy was the only team that did not loose a single game in the tournament.

Sweden didn't lose a match either.

[LordR]

Sweden didn't lose a match either.
Penalty losses are still losses..

[Spartak]

Penalty losses are still losses..
No there not. It's a lottery. There is a reason that in the official rule books pks count neither as a win or a loss. The game goes down as a draw.

[Real Ray]

Freddy Adu & the growing sense that MLS has turned a corner of sorts re: stability and its future.

[Cassano]

Internationally: Italy being favored heavily to win Euro 2004, and then crashing out in the group stage.

Domestically: Milan's amazing year in which they won the Scudetto, and Juve finally finished below the 1st and 2nd spots.

[MoRado]

2004 was the year of the underdog! Greece, Once Caldes and FC Porto. It's nice to see the big guns don't have a free pass in major tournaments anymore.

year of the underdogs.....totally agree

[Vic#10]

Sweden didn't lose a match either.
This is more time than I intended to spend on this but according to the first section of Article 14 of the Uefa Rule book, which works in accordance with the IFAB rules; it does not say that a game ending in penalties is on any level considered a tie. Rather it says that a winner is declared by penalties if there is no difference in score after 90 minutes and 2 periods of extra time.

[Excape Goat]

just to throw in some events not mentioned.

Valencia's double.... Beckham's affairs.... Maradona's near death experiense.... Terez to Brazil(that was big because rarely does a South American club can come up with the money).

[1900AFCA1900]

No there not. It's a lottery. There is a reason that in the official rule books pks count neither as a win or a loss. The game goes down as a draw.

If you say so, Holland haven't lost on a WC or EC for ages! (ex. Euro 2004 of course, were we WON a PK. So I guess that explains why lost the semis against Portugal!)

[LordR]

If you say so, Holland haven't lost on a WC or EC for ages! (ex. Euro 2004 of course, were we WON a PK. So I guess that explains why lost the semis against Portugal!)
That's quite exaggerated... ;) You didn't lose a game 2000, but in '96 you have lost against England and 2004 against the Czechs, both times in the group stages. The last time you lost a world cup game was 94, but that's not a great achievement since you didn't even qualify for 2002.