The age of the PIGS

In September 2008, Spain had become European champions a few weeks ago against some prognosis. He was not among the huge favorites, but he had a group of notable footballers who completed the tournament making history giving a level of play rarely seen in the Euro and, in general, on any elite green.

When everything was devalued economically, Spanish football found its Golden generation. Before it was Greece, also hit by the crisis after its triumph in 2004 and later, Portugal and Italy. All suffered the crisis and the ridicule of the Financial Times in an article in which the acronym was cradled with the initials in English of Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain (Spain) PIGS, identical to the word 'pigs' in Shakespeare's language.

“It's a pejorative nickname, although it largely reflects reality. Eight years ago, pigs really did fly. Their economies soared after joining the eurozone. … Now pigs are falling back to earth. “, said this newspaper according to the newspaper archive of the newspaper El País in September 2008. In this group, they did not hesitate to include Ireland, expanding the acronym with an additional I if necessary.

Nobody beats the PIGS in the 21st century

As the political analyst Edu Bayón pointed out on Twitter, These countries dubbed as PIGS have managed to win all the European Cups of the 21st century, from 2004 to 2020, held in 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The first to prevail and the biggest surprise was Greece. Charisteas, Nikopolidis and company assembled a very compact block and got off Spain in the group stage (1-1), They knocked out 2000 champion France 1-0 and traced the same result against a Czech Republic that appeared among the favorites and in a traumatic match for Portugal. In Lisbon, 0-1 with a goal from the aforementioned Hellenic striker and a victory for the G of the PIGS against a very young Cristiano Ronaldo, whose image crying after the defeat is still remembered.

In 2008 and 2012, Spain blew up the history of the tournament for almost every reason. They were the first to win two in a row and also, with a remarkable level of play with Luis Aragonés and Vicente del Bosque on the bench and a roster of players who made up the best generation in the history of national football. Double triumph first against Germany and then against Italy, to which the Red team inflicted a hard defeat.

In 2016, everything seemed set for France, but Portugal sneaked into the Saint Denis party. They reached the final as the best third and took their first win. In a final starring moths and the injury of Cristiano Ronaldo, who was almost second to Santos, Eder decided with a whiplash in 109 to close the first Portuguese success.

This Euro 2020, held in 2021, crowned the last of the 'PIGS', Italy. Even the penalties had to go to blow up another local party. This time to England. With Wembley ready for celebration and more, following Luke Shaw's 2nd minute goal. A series of rebounds culminated by Bonucci gave Italy the tie and in the penalty shootout, Donnarumma became a giant to wallow in the noble mud of Wembley after saving several penalties. He got up and celebrated the last sporting victory in southern Europe.