A big, fat Greek upset

In an explosion of underdog pride, patriotism and giddy disbelief at beating the odds Greeks joined in a midsummer’s night party Sunday after their national team won the European soccer championship in one of the biggest upsets in soccer history.

The festivities — a much-needed boost after grueling and costly preparations for next month’s Olympics — erupted just seconds after Greece’s 1-0 shock victory over host Portugal in Lisbon.

Angelos Charisteas’ goal early in the second half with a header off a corner kick from Angelos Basinas gave the Greeks the win.

Giourkas Seitaridis went on a speedy run down the right and was stopped by Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, with the ball rolling over the end line. Basinas floated the resulting corner kick into the 6-yard box, and Charisteas timed his run perfectly to outjump Jorge Andrade and beat goalkeeper Ricardo Pereira from 5 yards.

And when the final whistle blew nearly 40 minutes later, the celebration began.

Church bells rang. Cars clogged the streets of every city and hamlet. Everywhere was a sea of blue and white, the colors of the Greek flag. Drivers blared horns. People yelled from balconies. Fireworks made places seem like war zones.

Shepherds fired guns from mountaintops. Red flares whizzed skyward from luxury yachts. Police, already on full Olympic patrols, let down their guard for a moment to hug and dance.

“It’s unbelievable! It’s amazing! It’s glorious!” yelled people running through Athens’ main Omonia Square.

For many Greeks, the team’s stunning run meant more than just a sports crown. It brought a powerful national high at a time when Greek taxpayers are grumbling about huge Olympic bills, and security officials face nonstop pressure to satisfy international concerns.