Inside The Box: Rio Ferdinand and Angelos Charisteas

I'm Rio Ferdinand and welcome to another episode of Inside The Box. How many of you have dreamed not only of representing your country at a major tournament but also of scoring the winning goal in the final? Our guest today did exactly that at Euro 2004. His remarkable performances helped Greece achieve a true football fairytale and win this prestigious trophy. Please welcome Angelos Kallistez. Did I get that right? Thank you very much. You know what, before we start you and when you guys said to me we were going to get you and we spoke to UEFA about different legends that we were going to get, it might be surprising to a lot of people but your name was the one that jumped off the page immediately to me because when I used to play against you, I don't know if you know this, but you used to give me a hard game all the time. I played against so many different players but the style of football that you played really used to be, I used to find it difficult. You were athletic, you made good runs, you were aggressive, you were strong enough, you were good in the air, all the things that are difficult to defend and you wanted to run this way. That was the biggest one, always running behind which makes it difficult. That was for me the coach because I'm a tall guy of course, everyone expects to be good in the head but I have to be also back to work defence. So I think because of that quality, I made the difference that time on my team, on the Greek national team. But I remember also that you say we play against you, I always like to play with hard defenders, to challenge myself and this is a big challenge to play against you. No, no, good, good. But let me take you back to this wonderful moment in your life, I'm sure a life changing moment. Greece, the first game of Euro 2004, you're playing against the host nation Portugal. What's it like for somebody from a smaller nation like Greece to go into a tournament like this? Yeah, first of all I have to say that before the game we don't have expectations. We just say guys go, give 100% and nobody expects for us to win the first game against Portugal. But we need to show to the whole football world that we are here not to just have fun but to fight every game, to be tough against Portugal. So before the game we are not so nervous to be honest because we know that Portugal needs to win the game. So we use this opportunity, we have a good defence, tactical and then the expectation to score a goal was high minute by minute. Did you feel that the crowd affected the Portuguese team a little bit? Yes, of course. We began the game very, very good because the Portuguese team start to play position game, to lose the first ball, we score very early in the game. Good goal by the way. Good goal for Karagounis and you know we are Greek people, we have passion, we work on this and so we start the game very, very positive. Karagounis, he was one of the names that everyone knew. Yeah, of course. Zacharias, is that the name? How do you say it? The captain? The captain Zachorakis. Zachorakis, as well, he was a lovely one. Obviously Giannakopoulos, how do you say it? Giannakopoulos. I'm very bad with names. Greek names are difficult. That's why I'm not a commentator. But these guys, we knew their names, we knew who they were but it was more about the team than individuals for you guys. Exactly. We work as a team, we put our ego. Sorry, Cristiano Ronaldo defending. We've never seen this. He's playing left wing defenders in Europe. So we surprised on the pitch also Portugal. If you see Figo, Ricosta, they call great names to play against me, against my college. After 57 minutes or something, we scored the second goal. I saw the crowd that were totally caught. Yes, a great moment. This Portugal team, obviously you mentioned the great names. Who was the ones that you thought were great but also performed great when you saw them in Rula against them? Of course, to be honest, we expect Figo to be the best guy from Portugal. But we watch also Cristiano Ronaldo that time and we say after the game, we say to everyone in the dressing room, guys, this player will be top because he showed this potential, this energy, this quality. Actually, that goal was the first goal for Cristiano Ronaldo in his Euro career. That was your top goal scorer in Euros. That's the first one. Exactly. Roberto Carvalho, Maneesh, great players. But the biggest star, I think, that time, Luis Figo. We have extra tactics for Luis Figo that time. If he takes the ball to beat two guys against him. And we are a little bit lucky in the end because he didn't score quite times. Well, let's go to the next game. You got Spain. Can I just say your group, by the way, was like a tough group. You got Spain, the host nation, Portugal and Russia. And here you're playing Spain. Again, filled with superstars, Raul etc. These guys, Morientes and they had some wonderful players. Did you, after the first game, did they give you the confidence to actually feel that you could get a result against Spain? We have Spain in our qualification group before European Championship. Yes, we have. And in the end, we are first. We were first in the group. And second, Spain was second. So we know the team. We know the quality of the team, of course. We know that we have Raul, Morientes, big stars, Real Madrid players. And we make the same. We use this opportunity to defend well and to have counterattacks against Spain. This is where you come in, huh? Yes, exactly. But I have to say, Rio, that game was the most difficult game we have in the tournament. Yeah? Why? Especially the last 30 minutes. Was Spain more movement, rotations, passing? To be honest, Joaquin, the right winger, Otter Hegel put two extra defenders. You know, just 30 minutes, defend, defend, defend. Wait, can I just say, this is how I remember you. This type of goal here, on the back of the defender. Yes. Beautiful striker's goal. It's a great pass, but what a touch. And a great finish. When that ball's coming, what are you thinking? Just get your touch right to get a shot off there. Actually, it was the first time I was two or three metres away from Puyol. He was always close to me. I always try to make movements. And I say, this is my time now. I don't think I have more opportunities to score. And I take the control with my left, you know, and I strike. Great strike. Great striker's goal. Difficult, difficult. Yeah, you made it look easier than what it is. This is tough. Very tough, because it's a long ball, you have to stop the ball, and you don't have time here. You don't have the time. You hit the ball before it even hit the floor. One bounce. Yes. So the defender, the quicker you do that, like you did, it gives the defender less chance to get back. If the ball bounced again, he probably stops it. Exactly. I think the beauty of this goal is that it's a long ball, you stop, control the ball, and you don't have even two seconds. You have to strike immediately. Quick. No, good. So we go past this, you lose to Russia in the group stages, which doesn't affect qualification, and then you get France. Can I just say, this must be one of the toughest routes to a final I've ever seen. Yeah, for a team as well, who's underdogs, who's not expected, but wow. The host nation, Spain, one of the top teams, then you have to play France. Now look at their team, Zidane, Martes, Lizarazu, Thuram, Makalele. Look at the names, man. It's crazy. To be honest, we make our best game in the tournament. So before this game, just talk me through the mindset of an underdog, again, who's had two fantastic results, and then qualified maybe unexpectedly from that group, and then now play France, again, one of the favourites. What's the mindset of the underdog going into this game? Once again, we have motivation to play against Zinedine Zidane. We don't need extra motivation. Not France, Zinedine Zidane. Zinedine Zidane. Because that time, I think, we're the best player in the world, and we know that he's a star, he's the boss on the pitch, and we try to make him nervous. We have two or three guys around him, and I have to say this story. Six months ago, I think, Makalele played a friendly game, and he said, Angelos, after the first half, he came to the dressing room, and Zinedine Zidane said, guys, the Greek team is very tough. I dribble one, come the second. I dribble the second, come the third. We try to push him. Smash him. Yes, exactly. Because he's the key for the French team. This was our tactic, and once again, we try also to attack, because I think if you don't show offensive qualities against those teams, you don't have a chance. I mean, in the first 10-15 minutes, we show our qualities. We give these signs that we are here. You have to be careful, and of course, everyone in Greece, especially in Greece, remember that moment with Zagorakis. What a header. But the key is Katsouranis. The run. He called me before. Did he? Yes. Angelos. Show me again. Katsouranis, also a great player. Oh, so he let you back off. He called me. Angelos, I come to the first post. Oh, look at your movement. Go back a minute. Wait, wait, wait. Look at the shout when the shout comes. Go on. Yes, shout. You've made a movement. Oh, my gosh. It takes a defender. It takes two run. That's why I don't move from my position. I stay there, because I was ready to go to the first post. Beautiful. And he told me, Angelos, I come to the first post. You see what? You know all the coaching manuals and the coaching of young players nowadays. You don't really see much coaching on communication. Yes, I agree. I agree with you. And the communication makes this goal. Without the communication, you don't score. Do you now believe now, is there belief in that stadium, them fans there, and yourselves on the pitch, we can win this tournament right now? Was you beat Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, great players, and you start to believe that now is your moment. If you beat these players, you can win against everyone. Do you want a big team in the semi-final, or do you want a team that you feel actually is a little bit more balanced, rather than being really big underdogs? I think the Czech Republic was at that time the secret favorite. Everyone expected the Czech Republic, to be honest, to be the final. Rozicky, Kohler. Yes, Kohler, Galasek. Who's the main guy? Nedved. Nedved. But they are some big players, man. Yes, yes, yes. And that game, I remember that we start very, very difficult. You see many chances, the first. Oh, Rozicky, young Rozicky. Yes, yes, yes. Did Nedved win the World Player of the Ballon d'Or this year? Yes. He might have, yeah. They've got the Ballon d'Or in their team. They were a really good team then, Czech Republic, semi-final. Tough opponents, huh? And Kulovsky, he went to Milan after that. And that moment, I think, get injury. Defender? Yes, get injury, not from Czechia. Oh, who's that? Nedved, I think, get injury at that game, that moment, and he get out. Oh, confidence for you. Confidence. Give us confidence because, yeah, one of the best players, maybe the best player in Czechia, get out. Oh, Rozicky. That's beautiful football. They would have been favorites for this game. Yeah. And this is the last minute, the last second, to say. This is a silver goal. I think it was the last time that silver goal. Yeah, yeah. It was a strange, strange one, wasn't it? Yeah, strange, strange. So if you scored, if you scored a goal in the half-time, finished in extra time, and you were leading, you'd win the game. Exactly. And this is what happened here. Wow. These are bad, you know, it's like shock everyone. How important was this guy, the manager? Yeah, I have to say the hard work for our team because he took the 100% for everyone. Motivate. I think his quality was not the tactical things we have to do because always say, guys, you are grown men, you play in great leagues, you know what you have to do. And always try to motivate us before the games. Give us great examples from great athletes and always say to us that you're already winners. Now you have to go inside and to be happy after 90 minutes, what you perform. So when you win this game and you're going into the final, what's the pressure like from back home in Greece, the expectations now, and you know, and you're on the cusp of absolute iconic greatness. The pressures come individual, I think. For the whole team was no pressure, to be honest, because we achieve more and more than we expect. But to be honest, for myself, I was nervous because if you get in the final, nobody likes to lose in the final. So I was nervous before the game, maybe the first time. Yes, because I say, okay, we won against Portugal, now we play against Portugal final. And I need to show myself better. I need to perform better for the first time, because now they know who you are. Did the first game that you won as the opener of this tournament against Portugal, the host nation, did that have any bearing? Did that carry any weight into this final? Maybe psychologically, you think for them? Also, we use this opportunity because we know that expectation is Portugal. Now knows what's going to happen with Greece. You know, the tactical things. No surprise. No surprise. Now we know and we go to win the game. But we play also different one more time. What was the difference between the first time and the second time you played against them? We start the game, not just give the ball to Portugal and see what's going to happen. We try to attack aggressive, more aggressive, more offensive to show that we don't afraid of you. We know you are nervous, but also we are not just here to play like the first game. So we play always with psychology things. That's good. This moment was crazy. The expectation, the pressure for the home team as in these games. Are you as a striker, are you thinking I just need to score? I want to score. I want to be the guy that scored the goal. Always when I get to the pitch, I was thinking today is my day. I take so many messages, you know, for people that Angelos today is 1-0. You score the goal. You know, the energy is also very important for your country, for your journalists, for ex-football players in Greece, you know, the energy was positive. Guys who are behind you. We know you have a great tournament. You go to win against Portugal again and positive energy. Here it comes. The moment. 57 minutes. The most iconic goal you've ever scored. Pow. What is that feeling like? Please tell me. My dream come true, you know, I was dreaming for my young king. Yeah, that's my nephew. One year old that time. I always have some special give me motivation. He's famous now. But, you know, if you score this goal and you are proud, you feel proud for your country, you feel proud for your college, for your coach, for everyone. Who's that? He's the president of Federation and next to him is the prime minister of Greece. Oh, wow. Yes. Imagine how they feel, you know. There's a goal like this, there's a moment like this change your life. How impactful has it been in your life? Yes. We speak now 20 years after that goal, Rio and the people every day remind me that moment. Did you pay for food or drinks in Greece? If he's paying for food or drinks in Greece, I need you to speak to yourselves. You need to make sure this guy never pays for food or drink again. We're going to have to go through. I want to see the reaction of the Greek fans of you. Wow. Cristiano. Another iconic kind of moment for different reasons is Cristiano's reaction when they lose as well. You remember that. But they had a lot of chances in this game, didn't they? They have. Yes, they push the last 20 minutes a lot. But also to be honest with you, now we grow up, we know more about tactics and after 70 minutes, I think Portugal change striker and Pauleta, Nuno Gomez and they play with one striker. The last 20 minutes final, you lose 1-0. They give us also confidence. You know better. If you have two strikers, it's more difficult. Especially Nuno Gomez and Pauleta, big goals. We started with 2,000 Greek fans and in the final like 15,000. This now, I know it's joy, I know it's joyous feelings now, but do you realise what you've done? The enormity of what it is. I realise now, after so many years, I realise now because I grow up, I know what's going on in football. At that time, we were young kids, I was 24 years old. I was very, very happy, very proud for my country, for my team, for everyone, for my family. But now I realise for a country, a small country, Greece, to win against monsters, Portugal, France, Spain, it's crazy. Your route to the final, that goes under the radar a bit, I have to say. When we were researching and I saw your route to the final, I was like, wow, you deserve that. That's not luck. It's nowhere near luck. You can't luck out three or four games like that in a tournament. Because if you win against France, against Spain, against Portugal twice. Host nation. Yes, host nation. It's very, very difficult. I think it's maybe the biggest surprise in European Championships. Denmark also. Denmark as well, but this route was difficult. You know when all of you guys, do you get together now still at times? What is the reaction in Greece for you guys? Now we have our organisation, Greek Legends National Team 2004. We make charities. We give back to the people. Oh, brilliant. And we are still all together, friends. This is very, very important. And that is the secret of that team. We are family. We don't have ego. We play everyone for the team. We have the captain. Iconic captain, Zagorakis. And personalities. We missed, I think, right now these characters on the pitch. To go front, to give motivation. To lead. To lead, exactly. It's true. Wow, what a moment. It's an incredible achievement, this, and a wonderful story. Do you think that we'll ever see the likes of this again? A small nation, underdogs. Impossible is nothing, I think. I still believe that small countries have always opportunity to win. But now it's more difficult than before, to be honest. But you never know. We didn't know before the tournament. Karagounis, he was a hard-working player. Yes. Karagounis, Zagorakis, Basinas. I think also Rio Midfield won tournaments. You had aggressive, good, powerful, good energy, good characters. They seem like good personalities, strong. Yes. And they play all Champions League, they play in great clubs. I think 17, for 23 players, we play international. I was playing Germany, Spain, Portugal, England that time, I think, Dabizas in Newcastle. Dabizas, wow. I mean, we have international quality players. You do need that, I think. Yes. One last question before I let you go. Are you thinking, if I do well here, I can get a move, transfer? I was a champion in the Buddhist League that year with Werder Bremen. I won the Buddhist League and the cup in Germany. And I dream to make a bigger step. You know, always you have this motivation. I was already happy, to be honest. But always you want to, you're hungry, you want more and more. Less to leave this moment with my country. Well, listen, absolutely wonderful. It's been great going back through the archives and looking at the history books and something that I think will be very difficult to replicate. So thanks for coming on Inside the Box with us. Not this trophy, but the one before. Take care, man. And good luck. Thank you so much. Thank you.