Greeks woke up hoarse and bleary eyed yesterday after all-night parties celebrating their Euro 2004 victory, with the country’s PM urging them to continue the mood through to the Olympic Games. 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 hosts Portugal 1-0 in Lisbon’s Luz stadium.

The 57th-minute goal by Angelos Haristeas was a header, but for Greeks it was also a kick up the backside, a hint from the heavens to stop complaining, unite and prepare for the next big national moment, the Athens Olympics. The squad’s success will be a much-needed shot in the arm for Greek pride in hosting the August 13-29 Games, an event dogged by negative publicity over construction delays, security worries, budget overruns and profiteering.

“These boys taught us a lesson as to what Greeks can do when we really believe in something, when we are united and have self-confidence, dynamism and method in achieving it,” said Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis. “This is the best passport, the best invitation for the Olympics, because this great Greek summer continues in one-and-a half months with the Games.”

Radio stations played traditional syrtaki music yesterday and even political newspapers wore the national colours of blue-and-white around full-page pictures of the squad. “They lifted Greece to the top of Europe,” ran the headline of Eleftheros Typos. Ethnos led with “We won, break down the gates, our boys return as champions,” in reference to the ancient Greek custom of tearing down a section of the city walls to welcome returning Olympic winners.

Millions of Greeks around the world celebrated after the final whistle on Sunday night, flooding streets and squares, draped in the national colours, whistling, setting off fireworks and chanting the national anthem. In Athens, an estimated 250,000 people made their way downtown in cars, on mopeds and on foot, beeping car horns, waving flags and hugging total strangers, many wearing T-shirts proclaiming “2004 - the year of Greece”.

Flares turned night to day around central Omonia square, where people climbed statues, lamp posts and trees, raced their motorbikes in impromptu motorcades and joined marching bands in clapping and singing. Some stragglers were still walking the streets on Monday morning, staggering from fatigue but still mustering enough strength to break into cheers every so often.

“It is like a dream, a dream and we dont want to wake up,” said student Manos Vasilakis, who was lying by the marble entrace of Athens University, draped in the Greek flag.

<I>Ellie Tzortzi</I>