The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship ( or just Euro 2004 ) was the twelfth tournament of the UEFA European Football Championship , a quadrennial football tournament for European nations , and was held in Portugal , for the first time , between 12 June and 4 July 2004 . The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship , better known as Euro 2004 , was the 12th European Football Championship , a quadrennial football tournament for European national teams . It was hosted in Portugal , for the first time , between 12 June and 4 July 2004 , following its selection by UEFA , in 1999 , over rival bids from Spain and Austriaâ `` Hungary .