WTF, mate?

Greece beat the Czech Republic in the semi-finals of Euro 2004. In the previous round, the Greeks knocked out defending champions France. So it's Portugal against Greece [seriously, though, WTF?--ed.] in the finals.

Not only has this European Championship been one of the most exciting ever, but it offers fairly conclusive evidence that the Euro is the best soccer tournament in the world---better even than the World Cup. Every single team in this championship are legitimate contenders for a world title. In the World Cup itself, that's true of maybe half the teams. If Brazil and Argentina could be somehow included (and maybe, within a few years, the USA), there would be no need for a World Cup. Moreover, Argentina has been consistently rubbish in every post-Maradonna World Cup. Somehow, every commentator decides every four years that Argentina is the pre-tournament favorite, and then watch as Argentina crashes out early. One day, I suppose, those commentators will be right (the roulette ball lands on 00 once every 38 times, yeah?). But till then, Brazil is the only world power missing from the European Championships.